Turkey not choosing between Russia, others: FM

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday Ankara does not have to choose between Russia and other countries, amid plans to purchase Moscow's S-400 system and F-35 fighter jets from the U.S.

"We are not choosing between Russia and any other allies," Cavusoglu said at a NATO event in Washington hosted by the Atlantic Council think tank.

"We don't see our relations with Russia as an alternative to our relations with others. And nobody, neither West nor Russia, should or can ask us to choose between."

Cavusoglu came to Washington on Wednesday for a Meetings of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which brings top diplomats from NATO countries to Washington.

Turkey's foreign minister arrived the same week the U.S. announced it would suspend all "deliveries and activities" related to Turkey's procurement of F-35 jets because of Ankara's plans to purchase Russia’s S-400 surface-to-air missile system.

He said plans to purchase the S-400 system is “a done deal” and U.S. President Donald Trump said he would take care of the F-35 deal.

"Trump himself admitted on the phone that U.S. made the mistake not to sell Patriots to Turkey and he promised Erdogan that he will take care of this issue," Cavusoglu said.

A Pentagon official told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday that Turkish pilots will continue to train with F-35 fighter jets in Arizona.