ANKARA – Turkey’s deal to buy Russian S-400 missile defence systems had”nothing to do” with the security of the US, President Recep Tayyip Erdogansaid Saturday after a Pentagon warning.

He was speaking a day after Washington warned Ankara of “graveconsequences” should the deal go ahead.

“It is very clear why Turkey has bought this air defence system, underwhat conditions it has bought them and how it will be used,” Erdogan saidin the southeastern city of Diyarbakir.

“Everyone knows that this issue has nothing to do whatsoever withNATO, the F-35 project and the security of the US,” he said during thetelevised speech.

The “issue was not about the S-400s” but about Turkey “taking actions onits own accord”, especially in Syria, he added.

Ankara’s push to buy the systems from Moscow has caused tensions with itsNATO ally, as Washington has raised questions over the equipment’scompatibility with the alliance’s established weapon systems.

The US believes the S-400 sale is part of Russian efforts to disrupt thealliance amid Western concern over Erdogan’s burgeoning relationship withRussian President Vladimir Putin.

US Defence Department spokesman Charlie Summers said on Friday there wouldbe “grave consequences” for Turkey if it went ahead with the deal.

Turkey would withhold F-35 fighter jets or US Patriot missiles approvedfor sale to Ankara in December for $3.5 billion, he warned.

But Erdogan has insisted that Turkey will not cancel its plans to purchasethe missiles.-APP/AFP