According to a report, Ankara will announce the sale of its Russian-made S-400 air defense batteries to the United Arab Emirates, a move that would remove the main legal obstacle under U.S. law to Turkey's return to the F-35 stealth fighter program.
This morning, a report indicated that Turkey will officially announce the sale of its S-400 air defense systems to the United Arab Emirates today, a move that would remove the legal obstacle to Turkey's return to the F-35 program. The report follows earlier reports on the same day that pointed to Qatar as the recipient.
The Zioneer's initial coverage at 10:10 Jerusalem cited a Turkish newspaper reporting that Ankara had transferred the systems to a Gulf country. Simultaneous reports, including from the Turkish daily Hürriyet, identified the buyer as Qatar. The current report, however, names the UAE as the destination, suggesting a shift in the reported narrative.
In recent weeks, The Zioneer has reported on a series of signals from the Trump administration: on June 25, Trump said he would likely approve F-35 and engine sales to Turkey; on July 7, the New York Times reported that Trump was ready to signal approval; and on July 8, Trump said he was leaning toward approval, praising Erdogan. The administration also notified Congress of a $700 million engine sale. These developments have set the stage for the potential lifting of CAATSA sanctions.
The specific identity of the buyer remains unconfirmed, as earlier reports identified Qatar while the latest report points to the UAE. The official announcement has not yet been made, and it is unclear whether U.S. congressional approval will follow.
6 developments
- DevelopingTrump leans toward approving F-35 sale to Turkey, praises Erdogan's help
- StrongAnalysis: Trump's renewed push for F-35 sale to Turkey threatens Israel's air supremacy in the Mediterranean
- StrongTrump says he will likely approve F-35 and engine sale to Turkey
- DevelopingAnalysis: Erdogan's window for F-35s is now, deal appears increasingly realistic
Source and signal
- Internal intake