Turkish FM says allies shouldn't block S-400 deal

“If we are NATO allies and need to increase our solidarity, and Turkey asks you, you should also sell ,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said. “You should not interrupt Turkey’s purchases from another country or a country outside NATO, if you don’t want to sell.”

Speaking at the opening of a ruling Justice and Development (AK) party office, Cavusoglu stressed that Turkey signed a contract with Russia to purchase the S-400 anti-air system to defend its airspace.

He said that although various officials in the US had commented on the deal, “As our president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statements are binding in Turkey, Trump is interlocutor to our president in the US.

“If the Republic of Turkey and Recep Tayyip Erdogan have signed an agreement, he has given a promise, then he realizes the requirements that the promise and the agreement bring,” he added. 

Washington claims the S-400 system might covertly obtain critical information on its advanced F-35 fighter jets, including their detection range, which could then be relayed to Russia.