Turkey can strengthen its defense as it pleases, Erdogan says

Had the Americans sold Turkey a Patriot missile defense system, Turkey would not have had to buy S-400s from Russia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an interview with The New York Times during his visit to the United States as part of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, Report informs.

The Turkish president has refuted criticism and talks on digging a pit for the West, especially NATO, buying Russia's defense system.

“We buy our own weapons,” Erdogan said, asserting that both the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, and President Donald J. Trump had reaffirmed Turkey’s right to choose arms suppliers.

Asked if Turkey’s actions had been worth the frictions caused with the United States, Mr. Erdogan appeared unapologetic. “I think it was worth it,” he said. “We can strengthen our defense as we please.”

Erdogan also said the US-Turkish relationship remained fundamentally important. “Turkey has long US ties,” he said. “This will be reinforced and has to be protected.”