ANKARA, Turkey — Talks between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates over the possible transfer of Turkey’s Russian-made S-400 air defense systems have stalled, leaving Ankara’s effort to regain access to the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program unresolved, according to a report by the Russian newspaper Kommersant.
Turkey purchased the S-400 systems in 2017, and deliveries began in 2019. The purchase led the United States to remove Turkey from the F-35 program and impose sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Washington has maintained that Turkey must resolve the S-400 issue before it can receive F-35 aircraft.
U.S. Conditions Remain Unmet
On July 22, the U.S. State Department told Congress that Turkey had not yet met the legal conditions required for an F-35 transfer. The conditions include Turkey no longer possessing the S-400 system or related equipment, providing assurances that it will not acquire such systems again, and meeting remaining requirements under U.S. law, including Section 1245 of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.
The position came weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the NATO summit in Ankara. Trump said he would consider restoring F-35 sales to Turkey, while Erdoğan said he expected a favorable decision and later said he expected Trump to keep his commitment regarding the aircraft.
UAE Transfer Stalls
Turkey has explored transferring the S-400s to a third country as a way to address the U.S. restrictions, with the UAE emerging as a possible destination. However, the negotiations have now reached an impasse.
One reported complication is that the UAE has also been interested in the F-35, meaning ownership of the S-400 could create similar concerns for Abu Dhabi. Turkey also needs to address Russia’s position on any resale. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on July 10 that Moscow and Ankara were in contact over the future of the systems and described the matter as highly sensitive.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in July that discussions were taking place within the Turkish government regarding a possible transfer to the UAE. However, Turkey’s Defense Ministry later said that work on the S-400 systems was continuing and that concrete developments would be announced when available.
Deactivation Also Discussed
With the UAE option stalled, another possibility is to deactivate or decommission the S-400 systems while keeping them in Turkey. However, this approach could face difficulties because the U.S. legal requirements refer to Turkey no longer possessing the system or related equipment.
Other options, including placing components in storage or under external supervision, have also been discussed in reporting, but none has been confirmed as an agreed solution.
For now, Turkey remains outside the F-35 program, while the S-400 issue continues to be the main unresolved condition. The UAE transfer talks have not produced an agreement, and Turkey has yet to satisfy the U.S. legal requirements needed for F-35 transfers.
Source : t24
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