Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey’s spokesperson, Lön Gümrükçü:

When you remember how, in the end, we reached this point by purchasing S-400 missile equipment, I will explain this issue in this context as well.

The entire process of procuring an air defense system began in 2010. We held multiple tenders— I think that in the first seven years or so, three or four tenders were held—and each time, the U.S. proposal was the most expensive option.

That is understandable, because the Patriot systems are currently the best systems on the market. But they also showed the least cooperation in terms of side commitments, technology transfer capabilities, or joint production of each of the components.

More importantly, they also had the lowest level in terms of reliability.

Because every time we discussed this issue with our American counterparts—whether they could guarantee the delivery of the urgently needed air defense equipment—we were told that a democratic country subject to congressional oversight means there is no way they can guarantee delivery within a specified time frame.

They also said that Turkey’s image in Congress is not good, and that we should cooperate not only with the government, but also with Congress.