Putin and Erdogan agree to speed up supply of S-400 missile systems to Turkey
Russia has confirmed its decision to accelerate the delivery of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to Turkey. This was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference following Russian-Turkish talks.
"Of course, we discussed the state of cooperation between Russia and Turkey in the military-technical sphere, and, in particular, the progress of the implementation of the delivery contract for S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems to Turkey. We decided to speed up the delivery of these highly effective Russian defense complexes," Putin said. He was later quoted by Interfax.
Presidential Aide Vladimir Kozhin had earlier announced the possible acceleration of the supply of Russian military complexes. "The beginning of the [contract] is the beginning of 2020," he added.
On Tuesday, April 3, Putin held talks with Erdogan in Ankara. The two leaders also attended a ceremony celebrating the start of construction at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. The Russian President stressed during the visit that the implementation of the S-400 delivery contract is a priority in military-technical cooperation between the two countries.
At the press conference after the talks, Putin noted that the terms were changed "at the request of our Turkish partners and friends." "We are speeding up production, and we have finalized the prices, which is very important," the Russian president added.
The Russian president also announced the possibility of transferring production technologies for the S-400 to Turkey. According to the President, "these are exclusively commercial issues that are to be resolved at the level of economic entities."
"The issue of joint production, of the transfer of technology, does not for us fall within the purview of credibility or political engagement," Putin said. "We do not have any military or political considerations to that end, and there are no restrictions," he added.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in turn, stressed at the press conference that Ankara made the decision to purchase the Russian S-400s on its own. "Regarding the S-400 missiles, this decision was taken by Turkey alone, and in this matter our dear friends - the Russian Federation - responded positively," Erdogan said.
"We have reached an agreement on deliveries of the S-400, and this case is completed. Now continues the process of producing these missiles," the Turkish president explained.
He added that Turkey and Russia could expand cooperation in other areas of the defense industry.
In summer 2017, Turkish authorities announced that an agreement had been reached on the purchase of S-400 systems from Russia. In total, Ankara will receive four S-400 battalions. In November, Rostek General Director Sergei Chemezov said that the value of the deal was more than $2 billion.
This agreement between Moscow and Ankara caused concern among Turkey's NATO allies. The Pentagon said that the deal would raise unavoidable questions about how Ankara would "ensure the compatibility of these systems with NATO systems."