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08:00, 30-Apr-2019
Trump, Erdogan discuss Turkey's purchase of S-400 missile defense system
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U.S. President Donald Trump spoke over the phone with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday on the issue of Ankara's purchase of a S-400 missile defense system, said the White House.
Trump and Erdogan discussed trade, security concerns in northern Syria, and Turkey's planned purchase of the Russian made S-400 system, according to a White House statement.
The Turkish president said in a statement the same day that Erdogan had brought forward the proposal to form a working group concerning the procurement of the S-400 systems from Russia during his phone conversation with Trump.
The White House statement, however, made no mention of the Erdogan's working group proposal.
The United States has been in a feud with Turkey over the latter's purchase of Russian S-400 air defense system.
Russian S-400 Triumph medium-range and long-range surface-to-air missile systems drive during the Victory Day parade at Red Square in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2015. /Reuters Photo
Russian S-400 Triumph medium-range and long-range surface-to-air missile systems drive during the Victory Day parade at Red Square in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2015. /Reuters Photo
The United States argued that Russian missiles on Turkish territory could gain valuable intelligence on the technical systems of the U.S.-made stealth F-35 jets expected to be delivered to Ankara in November.
During a congressional hearing in March, General Curtis Scaparrotti, head of U.S. European Command, suggested that the United States should cut the sale of F-35 fighters to Turkey if Ankara adopts S-400 system.
On April 3, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence warned Turkey against purchasing the S-400 system from Russia, despite Ankara's firm stance on the deal.
The Pentagon announced earlier this month that it halted "deliveries and activities" related to Turkey's procurement of the F-35 fighter jets program if Ankara insisted on the S-400 deal.
Washington also reportedly threatened to reject sales of Patriot missiles to Turkey in case of the latter's purchase of Russian systems.
(Top image: U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attend the summit in Brussels, Belgium, July 11, 2018. /VCG Photo)
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency