Turkey's presidential candidates divided over military cooperation with Moscow
For the most part, Turkey's presidential candidates urge good relations with Russia, but things are more complicated when it comes to cooperation in the military field.
Amid complications over the United States' transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has proposed a joint production with Russia of the S-500 anti-ballistic missile system.
“Besides [the S-400s], I have made a proposal to Russia for the joint production of the S-500s,” the Turkish leader said in an interview with Turkey’s 24 TV on June 13.
He also accused his NATO allies of double standards and reminded them of the Russian-Greek deal on S-300 anti-ballistic missile systems.
“Greece has S-300s. You do not say anything to them even though they have S-300s," Erdogan complained. "These systems are also deployed in Syria, outside NATO, and you do not say anything. But when it comes to Turkey, it is hard to understand.”
