Trump knows why Turkey needs Russian S-400: Erdogan

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) - The U.S. president knows Turkey’s security concerns, and why it needs Russian S-400 air defense system, Turkish president said in an interview with Japanese media.

“I believe my meeting with U.S. President Trump during the G-20 summit will be important for eliminating the deadlock in our bilateral relations and strengthening our cooperation,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Nikkei Asian Review, a Tokyo-based publication, in an interview published Wednesday, ahead of G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan on June 28-29.

“Regarding the S-400s, Trump knows Turkey's concerns, why we needed this system and how we came to this point very well,” Erdogan said.

Turkish leader said Trump-Erdogan meeting in Japan will review all aspects of the ties between the two countries.

“We will also review the developments in the north of Syria,” he underlined.

The two leaders will also address a visit by Trump to Turkey in July.

Erdogan also reiterated that the S-400 air defense system procurement issue is a goods and services procurement for meeting the urgent security needs of Turkey.

“In our search for an effective air defense system against the security threats, technology transfer and cost-benefit analysis were priorities for us,” Erdogan said.