© Mikhail Japaridze/TASS
On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Erdogan announced that Russia and Turkey have signed some documents as part of a deal on the purchase of Russian-made S-400 long-range air defense systems.
“We have made steps on this issue with the Russian Federation. Signatures have been put and I hope that we’ll see S-400 missiles in our country. We’ll also request the joint production of these systems,” Erdogan said according to TV Channel Haber 7.
The Kremlin has not commented on the issue.
Rumors that Ankara may purchase S-400 air defense systems have been circulating since the Russian-Turkish rapprochement as a result fo a series of important developments over the Syrian crisis.
The US and its NATO allies are concerned that the Russian-Turkish cooperation may decrease the US influence in the Middle East and boost Moscow’s role in the ongoing crises in the region.
