Nato member Turkey is so committed to the contentious purchase of the Russian made S-400 missile defence system that President Tayyip Erdogan said it would jointly produce the S-500 system with Moscow.
US officials have called for Turkey to halt the purchase, calling the move “deeply problematic”, but Mr Erdogan said on Saturday that the sale was “a done deal”.
Washington has given a warning that buying the system would risk Ankara’s partnership in the F-35 programme because it would compromise the jets, made by Lockheed Martin.
Mr Erdogan also appeared to say that threats to exclude Turkey from the F-35 programme didn’t matter, as it would be allowed to purchase the new aircraft at some point.
"They [the US] are passing the ball around in the midfield now, showing some reluctance. But sooner or later, we will receive the F-35s as well as their parts,” the Turkish leader said. “Inshallah, S-400s will arrive in our country too.”
In April, the US halted delivery of equipment needed to prepare for the arrival of the 100 Turkish-bought F-35 over Ankara’s bid to buy the Russian S-400.
