Russia says it is in talks with Türkiye over the future of the S-400 missile system, after reports that Ankara may transfer the Russian-made batteries to another country to help resolve its dispute with Washington over the F-35 fighter jet.
The Kremlin said on Friday that the matter is “extremely sensitive” and confirmed contact with the Turkish side. Turkish media reported that Türkiye could soon announce a deal to send the S-400s to an unnamed Gulf state.
The missiles have been a major source of tension between Türkiye and the United States since Ankara received them in 2019. Washington argued that the system could expose NATO technology to security risks, especially the F-35 stealth fighter.
The row led the United States to impose sanctions on Türkiye in 2020 and remove it from the F-35 program, despite Ankara having paid for six aircraft and worked in the jet’s production chain.
The issue now appears to be shifting. U.S. President Donald Trump recently said sanctions on Türkiye would be lifted and suggested that a decision on the F-35 issue was near.
If Türkiye moves the S-400s out of its control, it could remove one of the biggest barriers to restoring defense ties with the United States and possibly reopen the door to the F-35 program.
