Turkey is seeking to return the Russian-made S-400 air defence systems it purchased nearly a decade ago from Moscow, which sparked a diplomatic crisis with the US, in a move that could resolve a long-running dispute with Washington nd allow Ankara to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet programme.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the issue directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Turkmenistan last week, sources told Bloomberg. The discussions followed earlier talks between Turkish and Russian officials on the same subject.
The Turkish presidency and defence ministry declined to comment on the report, while the Kremlin denied that any request to return the S-400 systems was made during the meeting.
Turkey’s potential decision to give-up the advanced Russian air defence system would mark a major reversal of a deal that severely strained Ankara’s ties with Washington and other NATO allies.
The acquisition led the US to expel Turkey from the F-35 programme in 2019 and later impose sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in 2020.
Bloomberg reported that abandoning the S-400s could significantly improve relations with the US, paving the way for sanctions on Turkey’s defence industry to be lifted and for Ankara to gain access to F-35 stealth fighters. A senior Turkish diplomat recently said he expected US sanctions to be lifted next year.
Pressure from Washington on the issue has intensified in recent months. The S-400s and Turkey’s desire to rejoin the F-35 programme were raised during Erdogan’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in September.
Trump’s close ally and US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, said earlier this month that Ankara was closer to giving up the S-400s and predicted the dispute could be resolved within four to six months.
Turkey purchased the Russian system during a period of growing estrangement from its NATO allies, which began during Barack Obama’s presidency and deepened after a failed coup attempt against Erdogan in 2016.
At the time, Ankara was also seeking to acquire US-made Patriot missile systems but said Washington was unwilling to finalise a deal, a frustration Turkish officials later cited as justification for turning to Russia.
Bloomberg reported that Ankara is also seeking a refund for the billions of dollars it spent on the S-400s. One option under consideration would be to negotiate a deduction from Turkey’s oil and natural gas import bill from Russia, though the sources cautioned that such an arrangement would require complex negotiations.
Turkey expects its role as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine to make Moscow more receptive to the request, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
NATO has long argued that deploying the S-400 system alongside Western military aircraft could allow Moscow to collect sensitive intelligence on allied capabilities. Turkey does not currently operate the system, according to the report.
Despite its close ties to Moscow, Turkey has sought to maintain a balancing act between Russia and the West. Ankara has refused to impose sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, while restricting the passage of Russian military vessels through the Bosphorus and supplying weapons to Kyiv.
Turkey hosts NATO’s second-largest military after the US, and Erdogan has repeatedly denied accusations that Ankara is drifting toward Moscow, arguing instead that Turkey is pursuing a balanced foreign policy.