Turkey's Erdogan says US will not impose sanctions over Russian missile deal

OSAKA/ANKARA - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday the United States did not plan to impose sanctions on Ankara for buying Russian defence systems, after the US president said Turkey had not been treated fairly over the contract.

The NATO allies have been at odds over Turkey's decision to procure the Russian S-400 missile defence systems, with Washington warning of sanctions if the deal goes through.

Russia's Interfax agency on Saturday quoted a Kremlin spokesman as saying that the deal envisaged a partial handover of technology.

Turkey has said it would not back down before the early July delivery date, further testing relations that are already strained over a host of other issues.

But in contrast to statements by US officials, Donald Trump said Turkey had been treated unfairly over its decision to buy the S-400s and blamed the "mess" on the administration of former President Barack Obama. Trump did not rule out sanctions.

Speaking shortly after bilateral talks with Trump at the G20 summit in Japan, Erdogan said that the S-400s would be delivered in the first half of July, adding he had heard directly from Trump that there would be no sanctions.

"We have heard from him personally that this would not happen," Erdogan said. "We are strategic partners with the United States. As strategic partners, nobody has the right to meddle in Turkey's sovereign rights. Everyone should know this."

Earlier, asked if the United States would impose sanctions on Turkey, Trump, sitting alongside Erdogan, said the issue was being discussed, but it was a "two-way street" and both sides were evaluating "different solutions".

The United States says the S-400s are not compatible with NATO's defence network and could compromise its Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets, an aircraft Turkey is helping to build and planning to buy.

Under possible US sanctions, Turkey could face expulsion from the F-35 program, a move Erdogan has dismissed. But Washington has already started the process of removing Turkey from the F-35 program, halting training of Turkish pilots in the United States on the aircraft.

"We have a payment so far of $1.4 billion to the United States," Erdogan said. "As joint producers, until now four F-35 jets have been delivered to us, but we will still receive... a total of 116 jets. We are expecting these," he added.

"What some people in lower ranks are saying absolutely do not align with Mr Trump's approach. I believe these will not harm our bilateral ties, and that is the commitment we are going on with."

Reuters