TSAMTO, February 2. Deliveries of Russian S-400 air defense systems are an internal matter of Turkey, they do not bear a negative attitude towards NATO. This, as RIA Novosti reports, was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
As the agency reminds, Russia and Turkey signed a contract for the supply of four divisions (regimental set) of the S-400 air defense system in the amount of $ 2.5 billion in 2017, deliveries to the Turkish side were made in the summer-autumn of 2019. The contract included an option for another regimental set. At the end of August 2021, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he had no doubt about buying a second S-400 regiment from Russia.
"The agreement on Ankara's acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems is an important step in terms of developing cooperation between Turkey and Russia. Russian complexes are a very important defensive system and their delivery is an internal matter of Turkey. This is our decision. We have made this decision, we have agreed with Russia. This step does not bring any negativity from the point of view of NATO," said R.Erdogan at a meeting with Turkish youth in Trabzon.
According to him, the member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance "have the right to independently make decisions on the purchase of weapons for the needs of their armed forces," the agency notes.
