Greek press leaks tension between Turkey and the US over S-400 and F-35: 'Move them to Incirlik'

The S-400 issue between Turkey and the US remains a critical topic awaiting resolution. While efforts to find a solution between the two countries continue, it has emerged that details of secret negotiations were leaked to Greece's Kathimerini newspaper. While Turkey's stance during this process is of strategic importance, the fact that information about the talks was reflected in the Greek media has drawn attention. According to some interpretations, the reason behind this leak is the belief that the Incirlik formula would create a negative reaction in Turkish public opinion, thus pointing to efforts to sabotage the process.

According to information exclusively obtained by Kathimerini, the US presented a detailed proposal over the summer aimed at resolving the issue regarding Turkey's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. This proposal would officially allow the country to keep the missiles on its own territory, but would essentially transfer control of them to the US.

'S-400S SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO INCIRLIK AIR BASE'

As part of negotiations at a more advanced stage, senior US officials put forward the proposal to transfer the Russian systems to the US-controlled Incirlik base in southern Turkey. In this way, Turkey would avoid a reversal that, from its perspective, would be equivalent to an international embarrassment, but would not violate the terms of its contract with Russia or breach any clause that could be binding.

Despite the complexity of the issue, it is understood that both sides now want the relevant negotiations to conclude successfully. This is because it would resolve a significant problem for Washington and NATO and would allow Ankara to return to the F-35 fighter jet program.

As Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a former Pentagon official, confirmed to Kathimerini, White House and Pentagon officials presented the proposal at very high levels in July. Rubin said, "My sources in the region say that during their visit to Turkey on July 1-2, 2024, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander and Special Assistant to the President for Europe at the US National Security Council Michael Carpenter recently discussed reviving the F-35 deal with their Turkish counterparts. In exchange for re-entering the F-35 program, they demanded that Turkey hand over the S-400s to the US or transfer them to the US-controlled sector at Incirlik base."

When asked by Kathimerini about the exact status of the negotiations between the two sides, Pentagon spokesperson Javan Rasnake said, "Since 2019, we have communicated our position to Turkey regarding the acquisition of the S-400 system and the consequences of this as set out in legislation. There has been no change in the US position or legislation regarding this matter."

'BIDEN TEAM APPEARS RECKLESS'

However, in reality, the presentation of this plan to relocate the systems to this specific location and the legislative attempts in Congress that failed this summer prove that efforts to resolve the S-400 issue are in full swing, that the options being evaluated are varied, and that possible changes in the US position or legislation may be imminent.

Commenting on this specific phase of the intense process taking place a few months before the US elections, Rubin said, "The most dangerous time in American foreign and defense policy is the collapse of an administration. Presidents do not feel the burden of accountability. They can do what they want without ever having to face voters again. Meanwhile, ambassadors and assistant secretaries want to place themselves on corporate boards or with energy and defense companies with golden parachutes. The Biden team appears more reckless than most. If there is one thing that should be a consensus in Washington and Brussels, it is that Erdoğan's Turkey is a force for instability across the region."

According to Kathimerini sources, Turkey's reaction at this stage is not positive, but the talks are expected to continue on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this week. As Rubin added, "Their Turkish counterparts refused and said they would keep them in the box inside Turkey. However, the deal is not dead, because the revival of the F-35 deal will be on the agenda of the US and Turkey as leaders and security officials meet at the UN General Assembly next week."

The sentiment in Washington is that, despite the fact that Turkey continues to cause serious problems in its relations with the US, the US is willing to take steps toward lifting sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and re-including Ankara in the F-35 program once the S-400 issue is resolved.

'INSTEAD OF SELLING F-35S TO TURKEY...'

Nothing said by US officials is a coincidence, and it is worth carefully following the statements made since the resolution of the F-16 issue, which have been moving systematically toward closing this matter.

Commenting on this favorable climate for Turkey, Rubin says, "Instead of selling F-35s to Turkey, the Biden team could just give the aircraft to Russia and China and cut out the middleman. This is truly the height of strategic stupidity and shows that despite all the rhetoric and progress of the last decade, too many people in Washington are ready to throw Athens and Nicosia under the bus. This should not continue."

Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who previously led efforts to curb Turkey's aggression and place controls on the transfer of defense materials to Ankara, said, "Any attempt to weaken CAATSA provisions or provide a sanctions waiver to Turkey would leave the United States and our Eastern Mediterranean allies, Greece and Cyprus, more vulnerable to our adversaries. Turkey has no place in the F-35 program."