Turkey says U.S. tone and approach not befitting partnership spirit - defence ministry

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan welcomes Turkish Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar to the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., February 22, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo
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Yuri Gripas(Reuters)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey has repeated its discomfort to the United States over the tone and approach of a letter sent by Washington, saying it was not befitting the ally spirit, over Ankara’s planned purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence systems, the Turkish defence ministry said on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, U.S. acting Secretary of Defence Pat Shanahan sent his Turkish counterpart a letter warning that Ankara would be pulled out of the F-35 jet programme unless it changes course from its plans to install the defences.
Turkey also expressed the importance to continue working on finding a solution to problems with dialogue, defence ministry said in a statement on its website.
(Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Humeyra Pamuk)