S-400 systems. FILE IMAGE: Alexey Malgavko / Sputnik
Turkey’s Russian-made S-400 Triumf long-range air defense systems will be sold to a third country, with the sale expected to be announced on July 10, according to a report by Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi.
Selvi wrote that instead of asking what will happen to the S-400s, the more relevant question may be what already happened to them, noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded to a question about the systems by saying “stay tuned.”
In late 2017, Turkey and Russia signed a $2.5 billion S-400 deal. The United States strongly objected, but Turkey pushed back, arguing that Washington had refused to sell it the upgraded MIM-104 Patriot long-range air defense system despite its status as a key NATO ally.
Turkey received its first S-400 delivery in mid-2019. Just days later, the U.S. suspended Turkey from the F-35 Lightning II program, explaining that the stealth fighter jet “cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities.” Later that year, Washington went further, imposing CAATSA sanctions on Turkey. By 2020, Turkey had taken delivery of four S-400 batteries, totaling 36 fire units and at least 192 missiles.
According to the latest report from Hurriyet, the S-400 issue returned to the agenda after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that CAATSA sanctions would be lifted, since the sanctions were originally imposed as a direct result of Turkey’s S-400 deal.
Selvi wrote that while it is known that Turkish personnel trained in Russia to operate the systems and that the S-400s could be activated quickly if needed, there is no clear information about their current status, whether they have been activated, remain in storage, or have been sent to another country, a situation he described as a complete mystery.
According to information obtained by the journalist, the S-400s have been sold to a third country, and the buyer identified as a Gulf country.
Some sources point to the United Arab Emirates as the buyer, while others point to Qatar. Both countries showed interest in the S-400 in the past. They also experienced shocks in the performance of their Western-made air defenses in different ways during the Iran war and have since sought alternative defense systems.
However, to resell the S-400, Turkey will need the approval of Russia. Asked about the recent report and if Ankara had sought Moscow’s permission to go ahead with the alleged deal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that both sides have been in contact.
“I can say one thing here: this is an extremely sensitive issue. However, we have been in contact with the Turkish side on this matter, and we will continue to maintain contact with them on this issue,” Reuters quoted the spokesman as saying.
Hurriyet’s report didn’t come as a surprise. Just two days earlier, Bloomberg News reported that Turkey is expected to receive six F-35 fighter jets from the U.S.
The deal would, however, happen only if Trump made the decision to CAATSA, which could take time. Israel has already voiced its objection.
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