ANKARA, Türkiye — Türkiye has asked Russia for permission to transfer its Russian-made S-400 air defense missile systems to a third country, according to Turkish officials and media reports, in a move aimed at helping resolve a long-running dispute with the United States over the Russian weapons system.
The request was made in recent weeks, just months after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan proposed returning the S-400 systems to Russia, an idea that did not gain support, according to Turkish officials familiar with the discussions.
Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reported that Türkiye could announce plans to resell the S-400 systems to an unnamed Gulf country as early as Friday. The report said the proposed transfer is intended to encourage the United States to lift sanctions imposed on Ankara and support efforts to restore defense cooperation, including a possible return to the F-35 fighter jet program.
Kremlin Confirms Contacts With Türkiye
MOSCOW confirmed on Friday that it is in contact with Türkiye regarding the future of the S-400 systems.
Asked whether Türkiye had requested Russia's permission to transfer the missile systems to another country, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said:
"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."
Peskov did not comment further on the reported proposal or whether Russia would approve such a transfer.
Background to the Dispute
Türkiye purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system despite objections from the United States and other NATO allies.
In 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on Türkiye under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and removed the country from the multinational F-35 fighter jet procurement and manufacturing program, citing concerns over the deployment of the Russian-made air defense system.
The S-400 issue has remained one of the main points of disagreement between Ankara and Washington in recent years.
Report Says Transfer Could Support F-35 Talks
According to Hürriyet, transferring the S-400 systems to a third country could help address U.S. concerns that led to the sanctions and Türkiye's removal from the F-35 program.
The newspaper reported that the potential buyer would be an unnamed Gulf nation but did not identify the country. Neither Turkish authorities nor the Kremlin have confirmed the identity of any prospective buyer.
Russia's approval would likely be required before any transfer could proceed, although neither Moscow nor Ankara has publicly discussed the terms of any possible agreement.
No agreement has been announced, and discussions between the two countries remain ongoing.
Source: bloomberg
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