Turkey Says Talks To Buy U.S. Patriot Missiles Continue, Despite Spat Over Russian System

Two Patriot missile batteries (file photo)

Turkey says it is holding talks with the United States on the purchase of Patriot antiaircraft systems.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the Anadolu news agency on March 1 that the United States has offered to sell the Patriots and "the delegations are negotiating."

The comments come amidst a controversy between Washington and Ankara over Turkey's impending purchase of Russia's advanced S-400 antiaircraft systems.

Washington has said it could withdraw the offer to sell the Patriots if Ankara proceeds with the purchase and has warned that the S-400 is not compatible with NATO defense systems.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last month that the S-400 purchase would proceed and that the first units would be delivered in the autumn.

"We bought S-400s because we could not purchase Patriots," he said.

Based on reporting by Reuters