Turkish Defense Ministry says US refused to discuss S-400 issue

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that the United States did not respond to Ankara’s letter, in which it proposed to discuss a solution to the issue of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system (SAM).

“Turkey intends to use the S-400 only in case of threats and danger. S-400s in Turkey do not pose a threat to those who are not going to attack it”, – Akar said.

Ankara in 2017 signed a contract with Moscow for the supply of S-400 air defense systems. Turkey became the first NATO country to purchase these systems from Russia. This decision caused a negative reaction from the United States and the Alliance as a whole: the United States does not stop trying to get Turkey to abandon Russian air defense systems.

According to the Turkish Agenda Telegram channel, a military expert, Air Force Lieutenant General Erdogan Karakush said that Ankara could “sell the S-400 to Azerbaijan”. According to him, in this way “Turkey could improve relations and not lose money”.