Such a deal would also include radar sets, engagement control stations and launching stations, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
Tension have been running high for months between Washington and Ankara over foreign policy differences in Syria and the US refusal to extradite Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara accuses of masterminding the failed 2016 coup.
One issue which has caused particular friction is Turkey’s stated desire to purchase the Russian-made S-400 missile system. The US has warned Turkey the Russian system is incompatible with NATO hardware, including the new F-35 fighter jet.
Washington has even threatened sanctions on Turkey if it goes through with the Russia deal.
Clearing the way for the US sale of a Raytheon Co Patriot missile defense system to Turkey could persuade Ankara to drop the S-400 deal. Russia is expected to begin delivering the system next year.
Tuesday’s announcement does not mean a deal has been signed, but indicates the US is eager to keep Turkey in its orbit as Washington turns up the heat on Russia.
On Wednesday, Moscow said it is pressing ahead with its contract to deliver the S-400 to Turkey regardless of the US State Department decision.
“These are not connected processes. In this case, we are fulfilling agreements that we have with our Turkish colleagues. You know that the contract is being fulfilled. This will be continued,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Reuters.
Turkey is also not guaranteed to buy the Patriot system. Twice in its section process, Ankara passed over the US system in favor of Chinese and Russian models.
The State Department decision comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatens to deploy troops east of the Euphrates to fight the People’s Protection Units (YPG) – Kurdish fighters that make up the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
This is despite the presence of US military personnel supporting the SDF operation to clear ISIS remnants from Deir ez-Zor and areas close to the Iraqi border.
Such an offensive would cause serious problems for the NATO allies.
James Jeffrey, the US Special Representative for Syria Engagement, warned on Tuesday that a Turkish military offensive in northeast Syria would be “a bad idea”.
Turkey considers the YPG an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an armed group fighting for greater Kurdish political and cultural rights in Turkey, which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU.
Turkish bombardment of YPG positions near the Syria-Turkey border in November caused the SDF to suspend its anti-ISIS operation. This forced the US to intervene diplomatically and led to the creation of US-manned outposts along the Syria-Turkey border.
Despite recent improvements in Turkey-US relations, international opposition was not enough to prevent Turkey sending troops into Afrin, northwest Syria in January this year. Turkey has also laid down roots in Idlib, where it is supporting the Syrian opposition.
In a phone call on Friday, Erdogan and US President Donald Trump agreed to have “more effective coordination” on Syria. Turkish and US forces are already carrying out joint military patrols near SDF-held Manbij on the west bank of the Euphrates.
Last updated 14.45
