The words of the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, that he expects Ankara to soon remove the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft systems from its armament in order to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program, have sparked various speculations about a possible transfer of the systems to a third country. Turkish defense sources, however, dismissed this possibility to the English-language website “Türkiye Today“, stating that such an option is not being discussed, BTA reported.
Turkey signed the agreement to acquire the S-400 from Russia in 2017, and the first deliveries arrived in Turkey in July 2019, sparking tension and criticism from Washington and other NATO allies. After purchasing the Russian system, the country was removed from the F-35 program. Despite its exclusion, Turkey had already paid approximately $1.4 billion for the purchase of 100 F-35 aircraft. Washington has not returned these funds, recalls “Türkiye Today“.
Rumors about the possible transfer of the S-400 to another country intensified after a publication on the X platform by US Ambassador Barak a few days ago, which sparked speculation about the future of the S-400 in Turkey's arsenal. The ambassador pointed out that according to US law “Turkey no longer has to operate or possess the S-400 system in order to return to the F-35 fighter jet program“. However, he said the positive relationship between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has created a "new atmosphere of cooperation that has led to the most fruitful talks we have had on this subject in nearly a decade."
"Our hope is that these talks will lead to a breakthrough in the coming months that meets the security needs of both the United States and Turkey," Barak wrote.
The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported today, citing a diplomatic source, that the EU is discussing the idea of buying Russian S-400 air defense systems from Turkey and delivering them to Ukraine. According to an agency source, the Europeans could acquire the air defense systems to help Ukraine and pay for them with funds from the general budget allocated for this purpose. This, he said, will help Turkey return to negotiations with the US on the supply of the F-35.
The US ambassador to Ankara did not go into details or possible scenarios in his article in Ex about what solution Ankara could find to the issue of the Russian S-400.
After his statement, some Indian media also reported that Turkey could possibly transfer the S-400 to India, Türkiye Today points out, adding that this claim has not been officially confirmed by either Turkey or India.
According to Turkish military sources, however, such an option - to transfer the systems to a third country - is not being considered at all. The transfer of the S-400 air defense systems to another country is not on the agenda, sources told Türkiye Today. in response to the spreading allegations on the subject.