Turkey and Russia in Talks Over Possible Resale of S-400 Missiles

Turkey is reportedly preparing to sell its Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to a Gulf country, a move aimed at removing U.S. sanctions and restoring full defense cooperation with Washington Source: ground-news. The Kremlin confirmed on Friday that it is in touch with Turkey about the fate of the missile systems Source: moscowtimes.

What happened

Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reported on July 10 that a deal to sell the S-400s to an unnamed Gulf nation has been fully agreed, with final obstacles removed overnight. The announcement could come as soon as Friday Source: ground-news. The sale is intended to persuade the United States to lift sanctions imposed on Ankara in 2020 over its purchase of the S-400s, which also led to Turkey's removal from the F-35 fighter jet program Source: moscowtimes.

The reaction

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the issue as "extremely sensitive" but confirmed ongoing contacts with Turkey Source: moscowtimes. The U.S. has not officially commented on the reported deal, but the potential transfer could signal a shift in Turkish defense policy and NATO relations.

Key points

• Sanctions relief: Turkey hopes the sale will end U.S. sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
• F-35 program: Turkey was removed from the F-35 program after purchasing the S-400s, which the U.S. says pose a security risk to NATO.
• Gulf buyer: The identity of the Gulf country remains undisclosed, but speculation centers on Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates Source: ground-news.