Erdogan reveals Washington's only condition for selling Patriot systems to Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the United States is softening its position on the possible US Patriot defense system deal, and revealed that Washington has asked Ankara to ensure that it will not operate the Russian S-400 defense system.

There are differences between Turkey and the United States, members of NATO, because of Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system last year, which Washington says is incompatible with NATO's defense systems and will harm US stealth fighter planes that Turkey was helping In its manufacture, as was to be obtained by a number of them.

The United States said that Turkey cannot combine the Russian S-400 defense system and the Patriot system. However, Ankara asked Washington to deploy Patriot missiles on its borders with Syria to protect them after the escalation of fighting in Idlib, northwestern Syria, this year.

Washington has expressed its willingness to provide ammunition to Turkey for use in its military operations in Idlib, and has said it is assessing Turkey's request to deploy the Patriot system.

"We made this offer to the United States about Patriot: If you are going to give us Patriot, do so. We can also buy Patriot missiles from you," Erdogan told reporters on the plane that took him on the return flight from Brussels on Tuesday.

"They also (their position) has significantly softened on the S400 issue. They are now at a point: We want you to promise that you will not make the S400 system work."

NATO support
US officials said today, Tuesday, that the United States is discussing with NATO its partners with Turkey what they can provide military assistance to Idlib, and will discuss measures that might be taken if Russia and the Syrian government violate a ceasefire.

"We are looking at what Nato can do," James Jeffrey, the US special envoy to Syria, told reporters at a conference call from Brussels, where he is holding talks with allies. "Everything is on the table."

Jeffrey, who was speaking next to him the American ambassador to Turkey David Satterfield, ruled out the use of ground forces in the event of a violation of the cease-fire, and stressed the need for Ankara to clarify its position on the purchase of the Russian missile defense system "S 400".

Last October, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that his country might buy the American Patriot system and overcome obstacles related to the F-35 fighter project, stressing that his country is at the center of NATO and will not search for another place for it to buy the missile system.

The Patriot system protects military installations and air bases from air strikes, the basis of which is long-term defense, and can hit air targets over a range of 160 km, and ballistic missiles over a range of 75 km.