A newspaper close to the Turkish government reports that Ankara has transferred Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to a country near the Persian Gulf, removing the primary legal obstacle under U.S. law to Turkey's return to the F-35 stealth fighter program.
A Turkish newspaper close to the government reports that Ankara has transferred its Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to a country near the Persian Gulf, in a move that would remove the main legal obstacle to Turkey's re-entry into the U.S. F-35 program. The report, which does not name the recipient country, indicates that the transfer has been carried out, rather than merely agreed upon.
Earlier Friday, The Zioneer reported that the Turkish daily Hürriyet had stated President Erdoğan sold the S-400 system to Qatar, clearing the path for the F-35 return. The new report appears to confirm that the transfer has been implemented, though it does not specify the recipient. The Hürriyet report had named Qatar as the buyer.
The S-400 system, purchased from Russia in 2017, prompted the U.S. to remove Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The Trump administration has signaled openness to returning Turkey to the program, but congressional opposition remains. The transfer of the system to a third country would remove the primary legal barrier, potentially allowing the sale of F-35s to Ankara.
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