![US soldiers can be seen with patriot missiles [US Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Debbie Lockhart]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/patriot-missiles090227-F-2039L-089.jpg)
US Department of Defence spokesperson, Jonathan Hoffman, said that Turkey can only receive the American made Patriot air defence system after it returns the Russian S-400 defence system.
Hoffman told reporters that the position of Defence Secretary Mark Esper had not changed on the issue which is that “Turkey is not going to receive a Patriot battery unless it returns the S-400”.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Washington had “softened” its position regarding Ankara’s purchase of the Russian S- 400 defence system.
Erdogan said the US had agreed to sell Ankara the Patriot defence system on the condition that Turkey does not operate the S-400 defence system.
READ: US says all options on the table to support Turkey in Syria’s Idlib