WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For some U.S. officials, the Trump administration's failure to persuade Turkey not to buy a Russian air defence system may have its roots in a coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan three years ago this week.
While they recognise that worsening U.S. relations with Turkey in recent years and Russia's growing clout with Ankara may also have helped sway Turkey towards buying the S-400 system, three U.S. officials and a defence source told Reuters of another working theory that has gained ground within the Trump administration.