Trump, Erdogan Agree on Forming Study Group Over Russian S-400s
- The two leaders have different views on what body should do
- U.S. concerned over Turkey purchase of Russian air defense
Photographer: Vasily Maximov/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump agreed with Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan to form a joint study group on the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which Turkey wants to buy despite U.S. pressure to abandon the purchase, according to officials from both nations familiar with the decision.
In a call with Trump on Wednesday, the Turkish president reiterated his desire to jointly examine any risks the system poses to the next-generation F-35 jet, according to a Turkish official who asked not to be identified discussing details of the call. Trump agreed, though the American view is that the group’s findings will support the U.S. position that deploying the Russian system would put the fighter plane at risk, according to an American official.