S-400 Exit on the Cards? Why Turkiye May Make Its Biggest Military U-Turn And Abandon Russia’s Air Defence System | World News
New Delhi: At a high-level conference in Abu Dhabi, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said Ankara was moving towards eliminating Russian-made S-400 air defense systems, a step that could pave the way for Türkiye’s return to the Washington-led F-35 fighter jet program.
He confirmed that Turkey has addressed the operational problems linked to the system, while stressing that simply possessing the Russian hardware continues to be a serious point of tension with America.
“I believe these issues will be resolved within the next four to six months,” Barrack said.
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When asked whether Türkiye was ready to get rid of the system, he answered “Yes”.
How Did the S-400 Procurement Close the Door to the F-35?
Türkiye’s decision to purchase the S-400 nearly a decade ago ultimately cost Ankara its place in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
The USA removed Türkiye from the project in 2019 and later imposed sanctions on Turkish defense companies under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Washington has argued that the Russian-made system could expose the F-35’s stealth design to enemy intelligence, while Ankara has insisted the S-400 will not connect to NATO’s integrated air defense network.
Even after being removed from the program, Türkiye had paid approximately US$1.4 billion for the planned purchase of 100 F-35 aircraft; This amount was never refunded by the United States.
In September this year, US President Donald Trump, after his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated that Türkiye might want to restart the F-35 purchasing process and added that Erdogan would “do something for the USA” without making any other statement.
Efforts to Repair Intra-NATO Ties
The United States and Turkey field two of NATO’s largest military forces, and resolving the S-400 and F-35 dispute is widely seen as an important step towards easing intra-alliance frictions.
Türkiye also navigates a delicate balance with Russia, which remains the country’s largest supplier of gas and oil, adding layers of complexity to the final decision.
Leading political voices in Türkiye are increasingly arguing that abandoning the S-400s is necessary to normalize relations with Washington. Former Minister of State Cavit Çağlar said, “If I were in office, I would withdraw the S-400s from Türkiye… We need to find a way out. We have good relations with Russia. The best way is to negotiate and explain that as a NATO member, we cannot use the S-400s against NATO. We need to solve this issue quickly.”
Signs of Movement Behind Closed Doors
In mid-2024, Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler suggested that Washington’s attitude began to change after observing the progress of Türkiye’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet project, KAAN.
Speaking in the National Assembly, he stated, “We already have six F-35s there…. Now that they have seen our progress with KAAN, their stance seems to be changing. They are indicating they might be willing to deliver them. We have officially resubmitted our offer to buy the F-35.”
Türkiye, which initially planned to purchase 100 F-35A aircraft, participated in the program as industrial partners with 10 local companies in the production chain. The first F-35 for Türkiye made its first flight in Texas in 2018. After the S-400 agreement, deliveries were stopped and access to paid aircraft was blocked.
Other Diplomatic Signals from Washington
In his interview with Bloomberg, the US Ambassador also touched upon the increasing tension between Türkiye and Israel. He described the talks between Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “mere rhetoric” and said that he believed that “Türkiye and Israel will find their relations at some point.”
Despite these statements, serious disagreements continue, especially regarding Gaza. Since October 2023, Erdogan has repeatedly accused Israel of committing a “complete genocide,” while Netanyahu has harshly criticized Türkiye’s attitude.
Figures released by the Gaza government press office indicate that more than 70,000 people have been killed and approximately 171,000 injured since the conflict began.
A Moment About Türkiye’s Defense Aspect
Recent signals from both US and Turkish officials increasingly point to a scenario in which Ankara could abandon the S-400 system as a condition for re-entering the F-35 program. If approved, such a move would represent a major shift in Türkiye’s defense procurement strategy and could restart one of the most strategically important relationships within NATO.
