No Decision to Transfer, Sell or Dispose off Russian S-400 Air Defense System: Turkish MoD

Turkey currently has no agenda to transfer, sell, or dispose of the S-400s to any country,  Türkiye Today reported quoting sources from the Ministry of National Defense.

A statement today from the Turkish Ministry of National Defense said:

There is no new development regarding the S-400 Air Defense System that has been brought to the agenda in recent days.

U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack said Tuesday that Washington is engaged in “ongoing discussions” with Ankara on its bid to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program, expressing hope for a “breakthrough” in the coming months.

In a post on X platform, Barrack said the talks center on Türkiye’s “desire to rejoin the F-35 program and their possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.”

However, making a statement in the country’s parliament on Thursday, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler: "The relevant process is being reevaluated in line with our country's interests and defense needs, including the F-35."

Reading between the lines of the minister’s statement, “reevaluation” could mean Ankara is reconsidering its rigid position on the S-400. In addition, the need for having a top level air defense system may have dissipated  as Turkish industry it has developed its own multi-layered air defense system.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also signaled progress, saying over the weekend that Ankara is close to resolving its dispute with Washington over the CAATSA sanctions tied to the S-400 purchase. “I believe we’ll soon find a way to remove that obstacle,” he said on the sidelines of the Doha Forum.

The US suspended Türkiye from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 after objecting to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system, claiming the system would endanger the fighter jets and is inoperable with NATO systems. Several Turkish defense entities were sanctioned under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).​​​

Statement from the Turkish Ministrty of National Defence on December 12:

Our efforts to strengthen our country's air defense capabilities with domestic and national systems are continuing as planned.

There is no new development regarding the S-400 Air Defense System that has been brought to the agenda in recent days.

Diplomatic contacts and meetings with our U.S. counterparts regarding the F-35 procurement are ongoing, and consultations continue for the removal of sanctions and obstacles on the F-35 procurement issue and for our country's re-inclusion in the program.