Turkey’s Erdogan says Trump may visit in July

US President Donald Trump may visit Turkey in July, Turkey’s President Recep Tayip Erdogan said in an interview in Japan where he will attend the G20 summit and is expected to meet with his American counterpart.

Tensions have been rising between the United States and NATO ally Turkey over the latter’s purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia.

Turkey could face sanctions under US law and risks losing its partnership and delivery of F-35 fighter jets.

Asked if he thinks he can persuade Trump not to impose sanctions on Turkey, Erdogan told Nikkei newspaper on Thursday: “I believe my meeting with US President Trump during the G-20 summit will be important for eliminating the deadlock in our bilateral relations and strengthening our cooperation.”

He said: “Besides, a visit by Mr. Trump to Turkey in July is being talked about.”

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Erdogan reiterated that Ankara would not back down from its purchase of the Russian system and said he had not heard anything from Trump regarding sanctions.

“We have already paid them $1.25 billion for the F-35 project. If they do make such a wrong move, we will take it to the international arbitration court because we will want them to pay us back the money we have spent so far,” he told the newspaper.

On Wednesday, Erdogan said NATO countries should not place sanctions each other as the tensions with Washington mount over Ankara’s deal with Russia to buy S-400 missile defense system.