Turkey will retaliate with its own measures if the United States follows through with threatened sanctions against Ankara over its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, Middle East Eye reports.

Speaking to two dozen journalists from foreign outlets in a closed session, Erdogan said Turkey wouldn’t step back from the S-400 purchase.

“Over 100 staff members of the Turkish military have completed their training in [Russia]. The military has already decided where to deploy the systems. They will begin to arrive in the first two weeks of July,” he said.

Several US government officials, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have previously warned that Turkey's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 missile system would have consequences, and is sanctionable under a US law known as CAATSA.

Read more:

• No step back - Turkey's FM speaks about S-400

• Turkey already bought S-400, deal closed - Erdogan announces

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