Türkiye seeks to offload Russian S-400 systems – Bloomberg

Türkiye wants Russia's consent to transfer previously purchased S-400 air defence systems to a third country in order to clear the way for the purchase of US-made F-35 fighter jets.

Source: European Pravda, citing Bloomberg

Details: Ankara put forward this initiative in recent weeks, just months after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan proposed returning the S-400 systems to Russia.

According to Turkish sources cited by Bloomberg, the idea has not found broad support.

However, Bloomberg notes that transferring the S-400 systems to a third country may not solve the problem either, as US senators told journalists this week that such a transfer will not remove security concerns.

More details: Talks with Russia began ahead of the NATO leaders' summit taking place this week in the Türkiye capital, Ankara, after US President Donald Trump indicated he might soon lift his own ban on Türkiye's purchase of F-35 fighter jets from the US.

The latest proposal came after Türkiye floated the idea of keeping the S-400 systems while allowing the US to oversee their operation in order to dispel concerns that data collected by the system could compromise the stealth capabilities of the F-35 jets.

According to sources, US officials rejected this idea.

Ankara is not currently using the system, despite having it in its arsenal, Turkish officials said.

Sources also said the S-400 issue was on the agenda when Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan travelled to the Russian city of Kazan, where he met Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin has confirmed that Russia and Türkiye discussed the S-400 systems previously supplied to Ankara.

Türkiye is keen to acquire American F-35 fighter jets but faces obstacles due to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system.

Background:

• The US Congress passed legislation banning any sale of F-35 jets to Türkiye for as long as Ankara possesses S-400 systems, stating that the Russian system poses a security risk to American combat aircraft.
• Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Donald Trump suggested he might lift the sanctions imposed on Türkiye in order to facilitate the sale of the jets.

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