17.12.2025 19:21
The possibility of Turkey disposing of the S-400 air defense systems purchased from Russia 10 years ago has come to the forefront again. It has been claimed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan brought up the return of the S-400 air systems during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkmenistan last week.
The S-400 air defense systems that Turkey purchased from Russia in 2019 have once again come to the forefront of international discussions after a long hiatus. Allegedly, Ankara is considering either returning the systems or deactivating them through a different formula. This possibility is suggested to be a critical threshold that could allow Turkey to regain access to F-35 fighter jets.
ERDOĞAN HAS CLEARLY STATED HIS REQUEST TO PUTIN REGARDING S-400
According to a report by Bloomberg based on sources close to the matter, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan brought up the S-400 issue during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week in Turkmenistan. It is claimed that Erdoğan asked Putin to take back the S-400s during this meeting.
This contact is noted to be a continuation of discussions previously conducted at the diplomatic and defense bureaucracy level. While no official statement has been made regarding the content of the meeting, it is claimed that the parties are evaluating possible scenarios.
F-35 CRISIS AND TENSION WITH THE U.S.
After the acquisition of the S-400, Turkey was removed from the F-35 program by the U.S., a decision that led to a serious crisis in defense relations between the two countries. Washington argued that the S-400s were incompatible with NATO systems and posed a security risk. Recently increased diplomatic contacts between Ankara and Washington have led to the reopening of this issue.
THE U.S. MESSAGE IS CLEAR: S-400s MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE INVENTORY
The U.S. Ambassador to Ankara and Special Representative for Syria, Tom Barrack, stated that progress could be made on the F-35 issue within 2026, but this is contingent upon the removal of the S-400s from Turkey's inventory. This statement indicates that there has been no change in Washington's stance, while how Russia would respond to such a move remains uncertain.
THE DECISION WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT DEFENSE POLICY
While there has been no official confirmation from authorities yet, it is assessed that a possible decision regarding the future of the S-400s could have critical implications for Turkey's defense policy as well as its relations with the U.S. and Russia. The steps to be taken in the upcoming period are expected to directly impact Ankara's position in global defense balances.