Turkey continuing talks with US over Patriot missiles
Turkish foreign undersecretary also set to visit Washington, perhaps next week, as part of bilateral working groups
Turkey said Friday that it is continuing talks with the U.S. over buying Patriot missile systems.
“I can say that our discussions with the U.S. regarding Patriot missile system are continuing,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy told a news conference in the capital Ankara, while discussing NATO-integrated defense systems.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Umit Yalcin is set to visit Washington soon, "possibly next week", as part of working groups established between Turkey and the U.S., added Aksoy.
Turkey and the U.S. have been trying to iron out a number of issues, principally concerning the terrorist YPG/PKK in Syria, a group the U.S. has worked with, calling it a "reliable ally" in the fight against Daesh.
Towards that end, Turkey and the U.S. have established working groups to discuss a number of issues including the stabilization of Manbij, Syria and preventing any undesirable clashes.
On Yalcin's visit, Aksoy said: "Assessment of results from the working group will be done, and a joint understanding is projected."
Underlining that Turkey's efforts to establish a NATO-integrated defense system are continuing, Aksoy said: "Thus, our consortium with France and Italy over Eurosam [air defense systems] is being carried out in this framework” in addition to talks with the U.S. over Patriots.
In January Turkey’s Defense Industries Undersecretariat and Franco-Italian manufacturer Eurosam signed an anti-missile defense system agreement.
