Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that Ankara could back out of the deal with Russia to purchase S-400 air defense systems, if Moscow declines to transfer technology.
“We have heard no official refusal on that score. [Russia’s President Vladimir] Putin told us we may take steps for joint production. Know-how will be crucial. If Russia’s attitude is negative, we may clinch a deal with another country,” Mr. Cavusoglu said in an interview with the Turkish daily Aksam.
Turkey and Russia agreed on the terms of the deal in July, but it was finalized and signed in September. Vladimir Kozhin, Russian presidential aide for military-technical cooperation, said at the time that transfer of technology had not been discussed.