Bloomberg: Turkey seeks to return S-400 missiles to Russia |
According to Bloomberg, Turkey is seeking to return the S-400 air defense systems it bought from Russia in 2019, a purchase that led to the NATO member nation being ejected from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
Bloomberg reports that Turkey’s move comes despite stern warnings from the United States and other NATO allies. In 2019, the Trump White House had described the S-400 as a Russian “intelligence collection tool,” stating that “The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities.”
Should Turkey succeed in returning the S-400 systems to Russia, it could see CAATSA sanctions lifted and potentially rejoin the F-35 program, helping to fill the capability gap left in Turkey’s air power.
According to the report, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the issue of the S-400s with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, during a meeting in Turkmenistan last week, following earlier discussions between officials from both countries.
While the Turkish presidency and Ministry of Defense declined to comment, the Kremlin denied that any formal offer had been made.
Ankara is also reportedly seeking a refund for the $2.5 billion it spent on the air defense system. Sources........