Trump Says Turkey’s Plan for S-400 Raises ‘Serious Challenges’

Erdogan at White House Wednesday for meetings with Trump
Turkey plans to acquire Russian anti-aircraft missile system

S-400 anti-aircraft missile launching systemPhotographer: Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images

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By Bill Faries and Jordan Fabian

November 13, 2019 at 7:57 PM UTC

Updated on

November 13, 2019 at 10:00 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Turkey’s purchase of a Russian anti-aircraft missile system presents “some very serious challenges” for the U.S., and directed Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to work on resolving the impasse.

Trump made the comments during a joint news conference with at the White House with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, indicating he and a small group of Republican senators were unable to persuade the Turkish leader to reconsider the acquisition during a day of meetings.