Second S-400 System Purchase Discussion during Russia Visit: Erdogan

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will discuss placing a second order for the S-400 missile systems with Russia during his next visit to the country.

“Regarding... the purchase of the second [S-400] package and so on; we have no hesitation regarding these matters. We have taken many steps with Russia, whether it be the S-400 or the defense industry,” Erdogan told reporters aboard the presidential plane on his return from a short trip to the Balkans.

He added that “all matters” regarding the S-400 purchase would be discussed during his visit to Russia. He did not reveal any more details.

Alexander Mikheev, General Director of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, reportedly told Russian state media on Monday that the consultations between Turkey and Russia on a new supply of the S-400s were at the “final stage.” This claim was soon rejected by a Turkish official who said there was “no change in the status of discussions to buy a second S-400 battery.” The official did not altogether deny the probability of purchase of the second battery.

The U.S.-Turkey tensions skyrocketed after the latter bought the S-400 systems from Russia for $2.5 billion in 2017. Washington’s attempts to persuade Ankara to ditch the systems went in vain. Soon after Russia began shipping the S-400s to Turkey in July 2019, the U.S. struck off Turkey’s name from the list of F-35 program partners.

The report is part of a ‘Russian perception operation’ whereby it releases misleading statements against Turkey amid its unsolved issues with the American side. “The Russians are trying to poison (our) relations with the United States,” reports quoted the official as saying.