ANKARA – The Turkish president says he will discuss with his Americancounterpart Donald Trump a possible purchase of US-made Patriotsurface-to-air missile systems in an upcoming meeting.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters published on Friday, Recep TayyipErdogan said that he had raised the issue in a phone call with Trump twoweeks ago, and that they would further talk about a Patriot deal during ameeting at the UN General Assembly later this month.

He also noted that his close relationship with Trump could mend tensionsover Ankara’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense systems.

The S-400 sale has raised the prospect of US sanctions on Turkey and ledthe administration of US President Donald Trump to exclude Ankara from itsF-35 stealth fighter jet program.[image: PressTV-US will not sell Turkey F-35 fighters: Trump]link

“I said no matter what package of … S-400s we get, we can buy from you acertain amount of Patriots,” Erdogan said. “But I said we have to seeconditions that at least match up to the S-400s.”

“He (Trump) said: ‘Are you serious?’ I said: ‘Yes’,” he added, stressingthat he told Trump they would discuss it in greater detail when they meet.

Patriots are designed primarily to take out ballistic missiles, notaircraft, unlike the dual-use Russian S-400 systems.

The US argues that Russian military hardware would be incompatible withNATO systems and expose F-35 jets to possible Russian subterfuge.

Turkey maintains that it needs air defense systems to meet securitythreats, mainly emanating from the conflict in neighboring Syria.