Turkey asks Moscow to approve S-400 transfer to third country to unblock F-35 sales | Ukraine news - EUROPE SAYS
Ankara seeks Moscow’s nod to transfer S-400 systems abroad, aiming to reopen F-35 procurement. The move would have major regional and diplomatic consequences. Ankara seeks Moscow’s consent to transfer the. . .
Ankara seeks Moscow’s nod to transfer S-400 systems abroad, aiming to reopen F-35 procurement. The move would have major regional and diplomatic consequences. Ankara seeks Moscow’s consent to transfer the Russian S-400 air defense missile systems to a third country in order to clear the path for purchasing the United States’ fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets. Such a step could shift the balance of power in the region and affect relations between Turkey, the United States, and Russia. Effort to unlock the F-35According to Turkish officials, Ankara has stepped up negotiations with Moscow in recent weeks. Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed returning the S-400 to Moscow, but the idea did not gain support. The batteries of Russia’s air defense forces are currently in Turkey’s arsenal, but the army does not operate them. If the Kremlin agrees, the systems will be moved to another country, which is not named at present. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described this issue as extremely delicate. Earlier, Turkey tried to reach an agreement with Washington, offering the United States control over the operation of the S-400 on Turkish soil to dispel concerns about leaks of sensitive F-35 data, but the White House rejected the proposal. The United States’ position and TrumpNegotiations with Moscow began on the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara, during which U. S. President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of lifting the ban on selling fighters. However, American senators have already stated that simply moving the systems to a third country may not fully resolve the issue. I haven’t made up my mind yet, but I’m inclined to say: look, he did it all, he helped us in many different aspects– Donald TrumpWhy the conflict aroseTurkey bought Russian air defense systems in 2019 amid deteriorating relations with NATO allies. Ankara explained this by the fact that Washington had repeatedly refused to sell Patriots, the American missile systems. In response, the United States in 2020 imposed CAATSA sanctions and completely excluded Turkey from the program for producing and purchasing the latest F-35 fighters. What precededRecently, news emerged about Erdogan’s steps to lift US sanctions. According to journalists, Ankara plans to sell one of the Russian S-400s to one of the Gulf states to rid itself of American restrictions and benefit in two directions at once. Earlier, Donald Trump announced the lifting of part of the US sanctions against Turkey, imposed in 2020 after the purchase of Russian air defense systems. Negotiations between Ankara and Moscow continue against the backdrop of Turkey’s efforts to preserve its defense capabilities and at the same time support NATO partners’ drive to modernize their arsenals. Developments in the coming months may determine not only the fate of the S-400 but also Turkey’s future role in the global security system and its interactions with the United States regarding defense technologies. Tags:ankara moscow negotiationsf-35 salesNewss-400 transfers-400 transfer turkey russia talks f-35 sales ankara moscow negotiationsTurkeyturkey russia talksturkiye