Turkey Could Transfer Russian S-400s to U.S. Control and Re-enter F-35 Program

U.S. officials have made a new proposal to Turkey concerning its Russian-made S-400 air defense system, which has been an obstacle to Turkey's return to the F-35 fighter jet program.

This is according to a special report by the Greek Kathimerini newspaper.

The offer suggests a "soft" deactivation of the missile system, allowing the S-400s to remain in Turkey while addressing U.S. security concerns.

The proposed plan, reportedly presented during the summer, involves transferring the S-400 systems to a U.S.-controlled unit at Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey. This arrangement would enable Turkey to retain possession of the system without violating its agreement with Russia, while alleviating U.S. concerns about integrating Russian technology into NATO's defense infrastructure.

Officials from both the U.S. and Turkey are working to resolve the issue, which has implications for Washington's and NATO's broader defense relationships. Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former Pentagon official, confirmed to Kathimerini that the proposal was discussed during a high-level visit to Turkey in early July 2024. Rubin noted that U.S. defense officials, including Celeste Wallander, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and Michael Carpenter, Special Advisor to the President on European Affairs, presented the proposal to Turkish counterparts. The U.S. delegation advocated for the transfer of the S-400s to Incirlik as a pathway for Turkey's reintegration into the F-35 program.

Following the July discussions, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara reported ongoing efforts to strengthen the U.S.-Turkey defense partnership. Despite the presentation of the plan, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that U.S. legislation concerning Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400s has remained unchanged since 2019.

Turkey’s response to the proposal has been largely negative so far, with Turkish officials reportedly insisting on keeping the S-400s in storage within Turkey. However, negotiations are expected to continue during meetings at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. Rubin emphasized that while no deal has been reached yet, discussions surrounding the revival of the F-35 agreement are ongoing.

In Washington, there is growing sentiment that the U.S. may consider lifting some sanctions imposed on Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) if a resolution to the S-400 issue is found. The upcoming talks will be closely monitored as both sides explore ways to resolve this long-standing point of contention in U.S.-Turkey relations.