New tension on the Ankara-Moscow line: Will Russia ask for the S-400s it sold to Turkey back?
It has been claimed that Russia wants to buy back the S-400 systems it sold to Turkey due to the air defense deficit it is experiencing in the Ukraine war. Although the allegations have not been confirmed by official authorities, it is stated that the steps Ankara will take will be decisive in terms of both defense policy and foreign relations.
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Russia's losses in air defense power and stock issues due to counter-offensives in Ukraine have led Moscow to seek new solutions. According to claims voiced in defense circles, Russia wants to buy back the S-400 air defense systems it sold to Turkey in 2017 for 2.5 billion dollars. However, the conditions and the price at which this request has been brought to the agenda have not yet been clarified.
Under the agreement signed in 2017, Turkey purchased four batteries, and deliveries were completed in 2019. This purchase, which caused serious debates within NATO, drew a harsh reaction from the US; Turkey was both removed from the F-35 program and faced CAATSA sanctions. It is known that some of the S-400 batteries in Turkey are not currently in active use.
On the other hand, Ankara has been acting with the goal of reducing foreign dependency by accelerating domestic defense projects in recent years. Air defense systems similar to the "Steel Dome" and the F-16 modernization process are among the most concrete examples of this goal. According to experts, this picture is interpreted as an effort by Turkey to reduce its need for Russian-made systems.
On the Moscow front, the recovery of the S-400s that are lying idle in Turkey is seen as an opportunity to fill the defense gap on the front line. For Ankara, the issue stands out as a trump card that could create bargaining power in a possible F-35 return scenario. However, the stance of the US and NATO, international balances, and political costs make the process quite complex.
For now, the allegations have not been confirmed at an official level. The path Turkey will follow regarding the S-400s will be of critical importance in the coming period in terms of both defense policy and foreign relations.