Erdogan says Turkey won’t dispose of Russian S-400s

Turkey's president says his country would be willing to purchase US-made Patriot defense systems but will not dispose of the Russian S-400 system.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to a group of reporters Thursday after returning from a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington.

Turkey angered the US when it bought the S-400s this year. The United States says the Russian air defense system poses a threat to NATO security. The US responded by suspending Turkey's participation in the program to help build the F-35 fighter jet.

Erdogan told reporters, "We said we can purchase Patriots. We regard the proposal to completely remove the S-400s as a meddling in our sovereign rights."

His comments were carried by state-run Anadolu Agency. [AP]