Speaking at a Turkish Armed Forces' ceremony, Defence Chief Hulusi Akar condemned Greece after the country's S-300 air defence system locked onto Turkish jets last week in a "hostile act."
Turkish defence ministry sources say that Greece's Russia-made S-300 system stationed on the island of Crete placed radar locks on Turkish fighter jets.
A confidence-building step between Washington and Ankara would help enable broader cooperation in the delicate act of balancing Russia.
Islamabad’s rival in New Delhi has already acquired the French Rafale jets and the Chinese J10-C jets are viewed as a direct response to the Indian acquisition.
The former Republican senator sees Turkey as an “indispensable ally” and “a bridge” between the West and the turbulent Middle East.
While Russia and Turkey have shown willingness to keep building their ties, the two nations may face limitations due to their divergence in foreign policy.
Ankara realised that it cannot just rely upon NATO for its survival. The post-July 15 Turkey values self-reliance and alternative international alliances more than ever.
Turkey is a US ally and a NATO member, but under President Erdogan’s assertive foreign policy, Ankara has shown the capacity to go its own way if necessary.
Last month, the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey’s defence industry chief and others over Ankara’s acquisition of S-400 missile defence systems from Russia, a move that Turkey called a “grave mistake.”
From Turkey’s perspective, Washington’s treatment of its NATO ally is “unfair”.
Addressing a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that follows the 7th Turkish-Russian Joint Strategic Planning Group Meeting in Antalya, both countries also slam the US decision on Golan Heights.
"We concluded the S-400 issue, signed a deal with the Russians, and will start co-production. Later, we may work with S-500s," Turkish president says.
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