The controversy surrounding the Russian S-400 missiles continues following reports in the Turkish press suggesting that Turkey is seeking to sell these air defence systems to a third country in order to avoid US sanctions and unblock the possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara. In a new twist, Russia has confirmed in the last few hours that it is in negotiations with Türkiye to carry out this transaction, although it has not yet revealed which country would be the buyer.
The commotion surrounding this issue intensified after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan replied with a terse “Stay tuned” when asked by journalists about the future of the controversial S-400 systems, purchased from Russia in 2017 for approximately $2.5 billion. Erdoğan’s words have taken on new meaning after the well-known columnist for the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet Abdülkadir Selvi claimed that the S-400s had already been sold to a Gulf country, just a few hours before the Kremlin confirmed that talks to that effect were taking place.
In his opinion piece, Selvi states that the sale to a third country has already been finalised and that it is due to be announced today, 10 July. The journalist claims that the destination of the S-400s would be a country in the Persian Gulf, and identifies the United Arab Emirates or Qatar as possible candidates, although he adds that everything is pending official confirmation. “Instead of asking ourselves ‘What will happen to the S-400s?’, perhaps we should be asking ‘What has happened to the S-400s?’,” he wrote.
The columnist explains in this regard that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was deeply shaken by the attacks by Iran, whilst Qatar has suffered Israeli attacks in its capital, Doha, against alleged Hamas targets; Selvi adds that the Iranian attacks have seriously damaged the UAE’s tourism-based economy, and that the country has since been seeking to acquire new defence systems.
Russia confirms negotiations with Turkey over the S-400s
Russian authorities have in recent hours confirmed reports that they are holding talks with Turkey regarding the sale to a third country of the four S-400 air defence systems acquired by the Turkish government, according to reports in the Turkish media. Moscow has thus confirmed for the first time reports that had previously only appeared in the press, although the statement issued by the Kremlin did not specify which country would be the recipient or at what stage the process currently stands.
The possible transfer of the S-400s to a third country is seen as a key step towards lifting the CAATSA sanctions imposed by the United States on Turkey. The CAATSA sanctions (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act), passed in 2017, were imposed on Turkey in 2020 following the purchase of the S-400 missiles from Russia; the measures adopted include a ban on granting US export licences and authorisations to the Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), as well as an asset freeze and visa restrictions on several senior Turkish officials. According to experts in the field, in order to lift these sanctions, it would suffice for US President Donald Trump to notify Congress in a letter that these restrictions may be lifted.
Israel and Greece seek to block the sale of F-35s to Turkey
Following the recent NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara, Turkey secured a promise from Donald Trump that he would lift the CAATSA sanctions, as well as the delivery of jet engines for the Turkish fifth-generation KAAN fighter and a possible sale of several F-35 fighter jets.
However, both Netanyahu on behalf of Israel and the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, have expressed their firm opposition to the United States selling F-35s to Turkey, as well as state-of-the-art engines for its new fighter aircraft. In any case, Ankara’s negotiations with Russia to dispose of the controversial S-400s could be the final step before the lifting of all US sanctions against Turkey, as promised by Trump during his recent visit.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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