Turkey is looking at options to return the Russian missile-defense system, the S-400, in a bid to appease the US, hoping that this would prompt Washington to consider the sale of the F-35 stealth fighter jets to the country.
Turkey's acquisition of the S-400 air defense system has been a major issue for NATO allies, particularly the US, since the $2.5 billion deal was signed in 2017 and deliveries began in 2019. Now, according to a Bloomberg report, Turkey is trying to rejoin the F-35 programme and avoid the sanctions that have been imposed on it ever since the purchase of the S-400.
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The Bloomberg report said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants Russia to take back the air defence system and refund the country the billions his government spent on procuring the system.
After a coup attempt against Erdogan, Ankara was looking at the possibility of procuring the Patriot surface-to-air missile-defence system from the US, but the negotiations fell through over the unwillingness to the US over transfer technology. Following this, the Turkish government turned to Russia and signed a deal for the S-400.
With the procurement, Turkey became the first NATO nation to operate the S-400. The US responded to the decision with sanctions and immediate expulsion of the country from the F-35 programme, viewing the purchase as a threat to NATO interoperability and F-35 security, even as Turkey continued to procure F-16s.
The Bloomberg report said even as Turkey suggested a compromise, such as a provision for supervising the S-400, the US insisted that a decision on access to F-35 rests on Turkey ending the S-400 programme. According to the Bloomberg report, ending the Russian S-400 deal would offer Turkey "unprecedented increase in defence-industry cooperation" with the US. It would also mean ending the US suspension on Turkey’s major defence procurement agency from accessing American financial institutions, military hardware and technology.
Cancelling the deal with Russia would also enable defence equipment suppliers of Turkey to resume the supply of critical elements for the F-35. "Turkey could also help speed up production of engines for other American combat aircraft if it can receive US consent to obtain and assemble GE Aerospace F110 and F404 engines," the Bloomberg report said, citing Turkish officials.