NATO is very much interested in Turkey not moving away from the alliance, despite its disagreements with Ankara, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted, speaking at a webinar in Brussels.

Turkey is a long-term and valuable ally, he noted adding that they are very interested in fixing it in NATO.

There are differences between NATO members, Blinken said. According to him, the alliance could grow stronger if it overcomes them.

Blinken called the contract for the supply of S-400 air defense systems by Moscow to Ankara in 2017 as one of the main problems in relations with Turkey. Turkey was the first NATO country to acquire these systems from Russia. Ankara's decision caused a sharply negative reaction from the United States and the alliance as a whole. The United States does not stop trying to get Turkey to abandon Russian air defense systems.

Due to the fact that Turkey does not give in to pressure and does not get rid of the S-400, Washington has excluded Ankara from the American program for the production of fifth-generation F-35 fighter-bombers. In December 2020, the previous US administration imposed sanctions on Turkey for the purchase of the S-400.