According to the journalists, the minister responded to written queries from parliamentary deputies regarding the possibility of removing obstacles to Turkey's return to the US programme for producing fifth‑generation F‑35 fighter jets obstacles that arose after the acquisition of the S‑400.
"As part of the ongoing process with the United States in the military‑political sphere, which is gaining positive momentum, solutions are being sought through mutual understanding and cooperation on issues inherited from the past and also concerning third countries. Our national defence plans, as always, are being developed carefully and competently, taking into account an analysis of current and future threats," TASS quoted the Turkish defence minister as saying.
The pro‑government newspaper Hürriyet earlier reported that, according to its information, the S‑400 had been re‑sold by Turkey to one of the Gulf states. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar were named among the most likely buyers.
It will be recalled that Russia and Turkey signed an agreement worth $2.5 billion in the autumn of 2017 for the supply to Ankara of four battalions of the S‑400 Triumph anti‑aircraft missile system. In early November 2019, Russia delivered the final batch of S‑400 components to Turkey ahead of schedule. After that, the parties continued to discuss the terms of delivery of an additional batch.
Washington demanded that Ankara abandon the deal with Moscow, offering instead to purchase American Patriot systems. Ankara refused to give in and continued negotiations on an additional batch of S‑400. As a result, the United States excluded Turkey from the programme for producing fifth‑generation F‑35 fighter jets.
In March 2022, Turkish authorities stated that they were not considering the possibility of abandoning the S‑400 due to US pressure. At the same time, Ankara said it was open to acquiring missile defence systems from other countries that would serve as alternatives to the Russian air defence systems.
In August 2024, the newspaper Cumhuriyet wrote that Ankara wanted to acquire fighter jets from Washington and had promised not to use the systems purchased from Russia in exchange for the sale of F‑35s. The S‑400 purchased from Russia are still being stored in warehouses, the publication noted.
In October of that year, Erdoğan said that Turkey itself would make a decision on purchasing a second regiment of S‑400s. According to him, the issue concerns the integration of the systems into the Turkish air defence system. In November 2024, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler stated that the United States no longer had objections to Turkey's use of the S‑400.
Media reports talks between Ankara and third countries on re‑export of S‑400
Turkey continues to hold talks with third countries on the re‑export of the S‑400 Triumph anti‑aircraft missile systems purchased from Russia, the newspaper Türkiye reported, citing Defence Minister Yaşar Güler.
