Turkey, US begin negotiations on Patriot missile sale

By Deniz Acik

ESKISEHIR, Turkey (AA) - Ankara and Washington began negotiating Turkey’s purchase of Patriot missile defense systems from the U.S., Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday.

"A positive response came from the Americans to the last letter we sent regarding the Patriot issue two years ago and negotiations have begun," Cavusoglu told a local broadcaster in the central province of Eskisehir.

After protracted efforts to purchase air defense systems from the U.S. with no success, in 2017 Ankara decided to buy Russian S-400 air defense systems.