Turkey is seeking to return S-400 air defense systems it bought from Russia nearly a decade ago, a move that would end a controversial deal that roiled its relationship with the US and other NATO members, Bloomberg reports.
Such a move would also potentially allow Ankara to buy the American F-35 stealth fighters it has long sought. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the issue of the S-400s with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Turkmenistan last week, following similar discussions that had taken place earlier between the two countries’ officials, according to people familiar with the matter. The Turkish presidency and ministry of defense declined to comment. The Kremlin denied such a request was made during the meeting between the two leaders.
The US president’s close ally Tom Barrack, who’s ambassador to Turkey, said earlier this month that Ankara was closer to giving up the S-400s, predicting the issue could be resolved in the next four to six months.
Giving up the Russian military equipment could improve ties with the US significantly, paving the way toward a lifting of American sanctions on the Turkish defense industry and Ankara accessing F-35 warplanes, the people said. A top Turkish diplomat has recently said he expected the sanctions to be lifted next year.
Turkey purchased the system during a period of estrangement from its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies, beginning during Barack Obama’s US presidency and deepening after a failed coup attempt against Erdogan in 2016. At the time, Turkey was also seeking to buy US-made Patriot missiles but claimed Washington was not committed to finalizing a deal.
That frustration became part of Ankara’s justification for turning to Russia and buying the S-400 system. Turkey expects its role as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine to encourage Moscow to be receptive to the request, the people said, asking not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the subject.
Ankara is also seeking a refund for the billions of dollars it spent to buy the air defense system, according to the people. That raises the possibility of Turkey asking for a deduction from its oil and natural gas imports bill from Russia, the people said, though they added that this would have to be negotiated.
Still, the cost of S-400 missiles and radars pales in comparison with the diplomatic capital Turkey could gain with NATO allies — and Trump in particular — if it gets rid of the system, the people said.
NATO says Russia could gain crucial intelligence if Turkey used the S-400 alongside Western jets. Currently, Ankara does not operate the system.
The US kicked Ankara out of the F-35 program in 2019 in response to the acquisition of the S-400s. Washington then invoked the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, known as CAATSA, in 2020 to stop Turkey’s defense industry getting access to sensitive technology.
