Turkish defense minister, US counterpart speak on phone

By Ali Murat Alhas

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and acting U.S. counterpart Mark Esper late Friday night discussed issues related to Turkey’s acquisition of long-range missile defense systems and recent developments in war-ravaged Syria.

In a phone conversation Akar and Esper discussed wide ranging issues.

“[Turkey’s] acquisition of Russian S-400 defense system was not a preference but necessity. Evaluations on the proposal of Patriot [defense system] are still going on,” Akar said.

Following protracted efforts to procure an air defense system from the U.S. with no success, Ankara signed a contract in April 2017, to acquire the Russian S-400 system.

Later, the U.S. urged Turkey to buy U.S. Patriot missile system, arguing that the Russian system would be incompatible with the NATO systems. The U.S. also highlighted that its fifth-generation aircraft, the F-35s, would be exposed to Russian subterfuge.

Turkey, however, emphasized that the S-400 would not be integrated into the NATO systems. Therefore, it would not pose any threat to the alliance.

Turkey has asked for setting up of a commission to clarify technical issues. But the U.S. has so far failed to respond to the proposal.

Akar said Turkey's stance on F-35 fighter jets did not change and the country fulfilled all of its obligations so far.

"Deterioration of Turkish-U.S. ties serves neither Turkey, the U.S. nor the NATO," he added.

The Trump administration had threatened to expel Turkey and Turkish firms from the advanced F-35 fighter jet project over concerns that the Russian system could be used by Russia to gain sensitive data used on the jet.