PARIS: The leader of Qatar said on Friday that he had discussed buying an advanced air defence system from Russia with President Vladimir Putin, but that no decision had been taken.
News that Qatar might be on the verge of buying the S-400 missile system has alarmed the gas-rich Gulf state´s neighbour Saudi Arabia, which is reportedly lobbying hard to try to stop the acquisition.
French newspaper Le Monde reported last month that Saudi Arabia had even written to France warning that it might take military action if Qatar went ahead with the purchase.
"I don´t want to go into details," Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said at a press conference in Paris after talks with President Emmanuel Macron when asked about the issue.
"There is no agreement. It´s true that we discussed it, we talked about it."
In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and other allies severed ties with Qatar and began an economic blockade over allegations that it was backing terrorism and regional rival Iran.
The S-400 is the latest generation surface-to-air defence system developed by Russia and is considered by Nato countries to pose a threat to their aircraft.
Russia has deployed it in Syria and is also in talks to sell it to Nato member Turkey, which has alarmed the United States.
The U.S. Treasury Department. — AFP FileWASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday issued hundreds of fresh...
Turkish police detaining protesters as they attempt to march to Istanbul's Taksim Square during a May Day rally on May...
Saudi fitness instructor Manahel Al-Otaibi. —AFP/FileDUBAI: Amnesty International called on Saudi Arabia to free a...
Harvey Weinstein. — AFP File NEW YORK: Harvey Weinstein will be retried in New York, the Manhattan District...
A representational image showing students refilling their bottles to hydrate on a hot summer day, at a school in...
This photo taken on May 1, 2024 shows the site of an expressway collapse accident on the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in...