NATO in Balkan, Turkey armes with Russian missile system

Despite NATO concerns, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country has agreed to buy the Russian missile system S-400.

We have taken steps with Russia on this acquisition. The agreements are signed. By God's will, we will see the arrival of the S-400 missile system in our country and then continue with the joint production”, Erdogan said.

Seeking to ease the concerns of his NATO partners, Erdogan said this development does not have to cause tensions, as a country should be looking for ideal ways to ensure its security.

Ankara's partners in the north-Atlantic alliance have expressed concern about the compliance of the Russian missile system with NATO technology, and also fears that Moscow can use the S-400 system as a land horse to compromise alliance systems.

The issue is expected to add questions about Ankara's loyalty. Zaur Gasimov, analyst at the “Max Webber” Foundation, dealing with Russian-Turkish relations, tells the Voice of America that buying the S-400 system is an expensive step of the Turkish side to demonstrate its sovereignty and draw closer to Moscow.

Ankara insists the $2.4 billion missile system, known as one of the most effective on the market, had the lowest market price.