Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400s does not change strategic orientation - minister

Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems does not mean a change of the country's strategic orientation, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told his U.S. counterpart by phone on Friday, adding that the acquisition was a necessity.

Turkey's Defence Ministry also cited Akar as saying Ankara was still assessing the bid to acquire U.S. Patriot air defense systems and that deterioration of bilateral relations would not serve the interests of either country.