Turkey's decision to buy Russia’s S-400 missile systems shows the prospects for long-term cooperation between the two countries, Scientific Director of the Institute of Oriental studies, member of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia – Islamic world" Vitaly Naumkin expressed his opinion in an interview for TASS.
"Symbolically, yes, it is very important in the sense of bilateral relations. Of course, we will cooperate with Turkey on a long-term basis. Perhaps, further, we will develop these projects to ensure air defense of Syria," the expert noted in particular.
At the same time, according to Naumkin, this step does not mean Turkey's plans to withdraw from NATO.
"It seems to me that the importance of this step should not be exaggerated in the geopolitical sense. <...> There was a question at the conference - will Turkey leave NATO? Turkey will not leave NATO. It's not going to happen," the agency quotes Vitaly Naumkin.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Сергей Савостьянов/ТАСС