Turkey will start receiving the Russian S-400 missile defense systems next month, said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday.
Erdogan said the S-400 issue is directly related to Turkey's sovereignty rights.
"We will not take a step back from this," he added.
Erdoğan made the comments while addressing his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's parliamentary bloc.
Tensions between the U.S. and Turkey have escalated in recent months with Turkey set to begin receiving the advanced S-400 Russian surface-to-air missile defense system, which Washington said will jeopardize Turkey's role in the F-35 program and could trigger sanctions.
Following protracted efforts to purchase an air defense system from the U.S. with no success, Ankara decided in 2017 to purchase the Russian S-400.
U.S. officials advised Turkey to buy the U.S. Patriot missile system rather than the S-400s from Moscow, arguing the Russian system would be incompatible with NATO systems and expose the F-35 to possible Russian subterfuge.
Turkey, however, emphasized the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems and would not pose a threat to the alliance.
The country has urged formation of a commission to clarify any technical issues, but the U.S. has failed to respond to this proposal.
