BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 19
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
US President Donald Trump knows the reason for Ankara’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Trend reports citing Turkish media.
The Turkish president noted that Turkey had no choice but to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense systems.
Erdogan stressed that Turkey urgently needs to protect its airspace.
Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems will be installed in Turkey in December 2019. After the installation of all S-400 components, Turkey’s anti-aircraft missile system will be ready for their use in April 2020.
On Sept. 12, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the Russian S-400 air defense systems will be used in Turkey in 2020.
Turkey will not transfer the S-400 systems to anyone and will not use them in other countries, Cavusoglu added.
NATO previously expressed concern over the reports of the delivery of S-400 missile systems to Turkey.
Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar said on July 12 that the first batch of S-400 anti-aircraft missile system components was sent to Turkey.
It was stated earlier that the Turkish Ministry of National Defense will determine the exact location of the Russian S-400 missile systems after acquiring the first S-400 shipment.
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