23.04.2025 08:30
The claim that Turkey will deploy S-400 air defense systems to Syria has raised concerns in the U.S. Congress. Two members of Congress, who wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of State, stated that this move could undermine Israel's military superiority, saying, "If Syria or proxy forces take over, the U.S. will lose influence and it will add a new layer of strategic instability to an already volatile environment."
U.S. House of Representatives Members Gus Bilirakis and Brad Schneider wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of State following claims that Turkey would deploy the S-400 air defense system to Syria.
GREECE SOUNDED THE ALARM
According to a report by the Greek-based Kathimerini, U.S. House of Representatives Members Gus Bilirakis and Brad Schneider wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of State regarding the issue.
In their letter, the representatives warned that such a redeployment would indicate a dangerous escalation and would have significant consequences for Israel's security, the credibility of U.S. sanctions enforcement, and the U.S. deterrent posture.
"THE RISK OF CONFLICT WITH ISRAEL BECOMES REAL"
According to Kathimerini, the letter states that this move would send a disturbing message to allies and rivals while "rewarding Turkey's strategic challenge."
In this context, the representatives stated in their letters, "The reintroduction of Russian systems into Syrian territory, regardless of the operator, will fundamentally change the regional air defense landscape. If positioned along the western corridor of Syria, it could severely restrict Israel's operations against Iranian assets or Hezbollah supply routes. This would reduce Israel's operational flexibility in the region and erode the technical foundation of the qualitative edge that the U.S. has long sought to maintain. Moreover, the uncertainty surrounding the system's operators only adds fuel to the fire. If Turkish personnel maintain operational control, the risk of direct conflict with Israeli forces becomes real. If Syria or proxy forces take over, the U.S. loses even more visibility and influence, adding a new layer of strategic instability to an already volatile environment."
"SANCTIONS ARE NOT RELATED TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF S-400s"
The representatives who authored the letter also argue that the idea of removing the S-400 from Turkey to address the risks Ankara faces under CAATSA sanctions is both legally and strategically flawed. In other words, the representatives emphasize that the sanctions were triggered by Turkey's purchase of the S-400 air defense system, meaning they are not related to the location where the system is deployed.