Turkey may expand its planned purchase of Russian air defence systems if it cannot buy U.S. Patriots missile defence systems, and it will also look for alternatives if it cannot receive F-35 jets, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Wednesday.
“Some member states of NATO have S-300s. Having an air defense systems does not contradict with the NATO membership,” Çavuşoğlu added.
He also said Turkey had not received a positive response from Washington over its proposal to form a joint working group to look into Ankara's planned purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence systems.
Rebuffing U.S. threats to cancel a deal for F-35 jets if the S-400s are delivered, Çavuşoğlu said in the absence of F-35s, Turkey could buy fighters jets from another source until it is able to produce its own.
Washington has balked at Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile defense system, and last week suspended delivery of parts and services for the F-35s.
U.S. officials have suggested Turkey buy the U.S. Patriot missile system rather than the S-400, arguing it is incompatible with NATO systems and would expose the F-35 to possible Russian subterfuge.
Turkey has responded that it was the U.S. refusal to sell it Patriots that led it to seek other sellers, adding that Russia offered it a better deal, including technology transfers.