Erdogan said Turkey could still buy US Patriot missile system

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey could still purchase the US' Patriot air defence system, despite obtaining Russia's S-400 – a decision that led to a diplomatic feud between Ankara and Washington.

Erdogan told Reuters that he had spoken to his US counterpart Donald Trump about the prospect of Ankara buying the Patriot missile system although a previous offer for the missile system has officially expired.

"I said [to Trump] no matter what package of ... S-400s we get, we can buy from you a certain amount of Patriots," Erdogan said in an exclusive interview with Reuters on Friday.

"But I said we have to see conditions that at least match up to the S-400s," Erdogan told Trump two-weeks ago.

Turkey ignored repeated warnings from ally the US about purchasing Russia's S-400 saying it was incompatible with NATO defences. 

Ankara argued that the S-400 was cheaper than the US' system and went ahead with the deal in July, leading to Washington's offer for the missiles expiring and Turkey being booted out of the F-35 fighter jet programme.

The surprise U-turn by Erdogan still depends on Washington's willingness to offer the Patriot to Ankara.

The signs so far are that Trump might allow a deal go ahead.

"He [Trump] said: 'Are you serious?' I said: 'Yes'," Erdogan said. The two are expected to discuss the matter further next week at the UN General Assembly in New York.

The matter had threatened to drive a wedge between the two allies, with Ankara also angered by the US' support for Kurdish militias in Syria.

Tensions have been eased with Trump agreeing to joint Turkish-US patrols along the Syria border and establishment of so-called "safe zones".