Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his country's plan to purchase Russia's long-range missile defence system is a "done deal," brushing aside concerns from some NATO allies.
Erdogan appeared at a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in Ankara for his first foreign visit since his March 18 re-election. Both the defence system agreement and Putin's visit underscore the intensifying ties between Turkey and Russia.
In December, they finalised a deal for Turkey to purchase Russia's long-range S-400 missile defence system, raising eyebrows among some of Turkey's fellow NATO members.
"We have made an agreement regarding the S-400s. That subject is closed. It's a done deal," Erdogan said.
The warming relations between the two countries stand in contrast to the souring relations between Russia and the West over the poisoning in Britain of a Russian ex-spy. Turkey's relations with its Western allies also have deteriorated over human rights issues and its military operations against Kurdish militia in Syria.
The Turkish leader spoke of "attempts to poison Turkish-Russian cooperation" and added: "Thank God our relations navigated these difficult tests with success. With every failed provocation, our relationship strengthened, just like steel after iron is quenched with water."
"We face the ambitious goal of launching the first reactor in 2023 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey," the Russian leader said. "We agreed with my dear friend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to do everything necessary to achieve that goal."
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