(Bloomberg) -- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to convene his top defense body on Thursday to discuss a U.S. proposal to sell Patriot missile defense systems to Turkey, according to a senior Turkish official.
The Presidency of Defense Industries is expected to hold a preliminary discussion on a possible purchase of the American system, the official said, asking not to be identified because he wasn’t authorized to disclose the meeting plans.
Turkey’s presidency confirmed the planned meeting but wouldn’t say what was on the agenda.
Although a detailed assessment is unlikely at such an early stage, the discussion itself reflects the rapid detente between Ankara and Washington that’s currently underway after years of strain that culminated with since-lifted U.S. sanctions on Turkey.
U.S. President Donald Trump gave an additional boost to the relationship earlier this month when he agreed to withdraw troops from Syria, signaling an end to his support for Kurdish groups that Turkey deems terrorists.
©2018 Bloomberg L.P.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
POPULAR