Erdogan goes against America, buys military missile system from Russia

Despite repeated warnings from the United States, Erdogan said Friday that supplies with the S-400 system would begin in July.

On Wednesday, US Vice President Mike Pence said Turkey risks NATO membership if it buys the Russian system, which Washington sees as a threat to American aircraft.

Erdogan said Turkey has also considered buying the American Patriot missile system, but that the US bid “has not been favourable like Russia's”.

Ankara is establishing closer ties with Russia, following the deterioration of its relations with the US and Europe.

Turkey has the second largest army in NATO.

Relations between NATO and Russia have deteriorated following the annexation of the Ukrainian Crime Peninsula from Moscow in 2014.