The US repeats the request to Turkey: Remove Russian weapons

During a meeting held in Brussels, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has asked Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that his country do not retain Russian weapons, which the US says poses a danger to the NATO system.

The two NATO allies have long been at odds over the issue. Last year, Washington suspended Turkey from its programme of secret F-35 fighter aircraft.

Ankara signed the deal with Moscow in 2017, rationalising the acquisition with its security needs.

The US State Department through an announcement said Blinken and Cavusoglu also discussed efforts to improve tense relations between members of Turkey and Greece.

“Secretary (Blinken) voiced support for the dialogue between NATO allies Turkey and Greece”, the report said.

Blinken has also expressed his Turkish counterpart, “concern over Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention on Prevention and Combating Violence on Women and Family Violence and stressed the importance of democratic institutions and respect for human rights”.

The two officials have also discussed common interests in Syria and Afghanistan.

For his part, Cavusoglu said his talks with Blinken were held in a constructive atmosphere, and that they agreed to hold a more comprehensive meeting in Turkey or the United States.

But, Cavusoglu has told Secretary Blinken that Ankara's purchase of S-400 systems was “a finished” job.

Turkish officials have said Russian systems will not be integrated into NATO defence infrastructure.

The delivery of the first four missile batteries -- from Russia to Turkey -- began in July 2019.