Putin offers stealth fighters to Erdogan

President Vladimir Putin confirmed yesterday that Russia is ready to sell Turkey its Su-57 stealth fighters, which could push relations between the buyer and its fellow Nato members to breaking point.

Putin made the comment while accompanying President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Maks-2019 international air show near Moscow. The leaders inspected the cockpit of a fifthgeneration Su-57, after which Erdogan inquired if the aircraft were available for purchase. ‘‘You can buy,’’ a smiling Putin replied.

Erdogan’s visit came after the United States last month cancelled Turkey’s purchase of its F-35 stealth fighters over Ankara’s decision to buy S-400 antiaircraft systems from the Kremlin, saying that the $2.5 billion (NZ$3.9B) arms deal was inappropriate for a Nato member. Pentagon officials were also concerned that Russian technical advisers could glean intelligence on the F-35’s classified super-stealth technology. Turkey’s purchase of the S-400s means that it will no longer be fully part of Nato’s air defence networks.

Erdogan’s trip to Moscow coincided with a renewed military offensive by the Kremlin-backed Assad regime in Idlib province, northwest Syria. Russia and Turkey agreed last year to create a buffer zone in the region to avert a massive assault by Assad regime forces on Idlib, but the ceasefire deal has come under increasing strain as Assad’s forces advance. –