Türkiye offers to return S-400 air defence systems to Russia in bid to mend ties with US – Bloomberg
Türkiye has raised the prospect of returning S-400 air defence systems it bought nearly a decade ago to Russia as it seeks to improve relations with the United States and other NATO members.
Source: European Pravda, citing Bloomberg
Details: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan raised the S-400 issue during a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Turkmenistan last week. The talks followed similar previous discussions between officials from the two countries, according to people familiar with the matter.
Erdoğan's office and Türkiye's Defence Ministry declined to comment. The Kremlin denied that any such offer was made during the leaders' meeting.
Türkiye's ownership of the missiles and its wish to rejoin the F-35 programme were discussed when Erdoğan met Donald Trump at the White House in September.
US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, a close ally of the US president, said earlier this month that Ankara was close to giving up the S-400s and suggested the issue could be resolved within the next four to six months.
Sources cited by Bloomberg say that giving up the Russian military equipment could significantly improve ties with Washington, opening the door to the lifting of US sanctions on Türkiye's defence industry and giving Ankara access to F-35 fighter jets.
A senior Turkish diplomat said recently that he expects the sanctions to be lifted next year.
Türkiye bought the S-400s during a period of strained relations with its NATO allies that began under Barack Obama's presidency and deepened after the failed 2016 coup against Erdoğan.
At the time, Türkiye was also trying to buy US Patriot missiles but said Washington was not ready to strike a deal. That frustration was part of Ankara's justification for turning to Russia and purchasing the S-400s.
Background: Türkiye's Defence Ministry said recently that there have been no new developments regarding the Russian S-400s.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!