10.07.2026 08:30
A striking claim has emerged regarding the fate of the S-400 air defense systems that Turkey procured from Russia and which have long caused tensions with the US. According to this claim, the S-400s have been sold to a Gulf country, and this historic development will be officially announced today.
{"text":"
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent response to a question about the S-400s, \"Keep watching us,\" had increased curiosity about the fate of the systems. Following signals from US President Donald Trump that CAATSA sanctions on Turkey would be lifted, attention turned to the S-400 missiles.
S-400S SOLD TO A THIRD COUNTRY
Hurriyet columnist Abdul Kadir Selvi, who addressed the issue in his column, brought a new dimension to the debates over whether the systems were activated or where they were kept. Selvi stated in his article:
\"Instead of asking 'What will happen to the S-400s,' perhaps we should ask 'What happened to the S-400s.' According to information I obtained, the S-400s were sold to a third country. The sale will be announced today. The S-400s are going to a country in the Gulf. The final details were being worked on yesterday.\"
PROCESS OF LIFTING CAATSA SANCTIONS
Disposing of the systems is also a critical step for the removal of CAATSA sanctions imposed by the US. According to information reported by journalist Yunus Paksoy, for the sanctions to be lifted, US President Trump's letter to Congress must confirm the following three key conditions:
- The S-400s are inoperable.
- Turkey no longer possesses the S-400s.
- Commitment that no similar defense relations will be developed with Russia.
NEW DESTINATION: UAE OR QATAR?
Although it is not yet confirmed which Gulf country the S-400s were sold to, according to Hurriyet columnist Abdul Kadir Selvi, two strong candidates stand out: the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.
Qatar, which previously faced an Israeli attack and realized that its US-made Patriot systems were not activated because they coded Israel as a \"friendly country,\" has been seeking alternative defense systems.
It is also known that the UAE, following tensions with Iran and blows to its tourism-focused economy, wants to strengthen its air defense network with different systems.
Selvi emphasized that with this move, Turkey would not only escape CAATSA sanctions but also generate economic income by selling the systems.
}"