(Bloomberg) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan downplayed the risk of U.S. sanctions following the nation's purchase of a Russian-made S-400 missile defense system.
Erdogan said U.S. President Donald Trump doesn't favor sanctions, even if they are supported by some U.S. officials. Turkey will finish receiving components for the new system in April, Erdogan said in a meeting with media representatives on Sunday, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
“I don't believe Mr. Trump thinks the same as others under his management,” Erdogan said. “He has said this loud and clear to his friends in front of the whole world media during the last meeting we had in Osaka.”
READ MORE: Trump Aides Pick Sanctions to Punish Turkey for Russian Missiles
Delivery of S-400 components began on Friday, under the threat of U.S. sanctions. The U.S. has said deploying the system could undermine NATO's military capabilities and potentially jeopardize the F-35 fighter jet, the Pentagon's costliest program.
Turkey is buying the S-400 system as “we are trying to guarantee peace and our national security,” Erdogan said. “We are not preparing for war.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Kerim Karakaya in Istanbul at kkarakaya2@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andrew Davis at abdavis@bloomberg.net, Neil Denslow
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