Turkey 'rejects S-400 for F-35s US proposal', seeking other deal with Washington

Istanbul – Jaber Omar -- Turkish media corroborated on Tuesday Greek reports that the United States has proposed that Turkey hand over its Russian S-400 missile systems or place them under US supervision at Incirlik Air Base in exchange for rejoining the F-35 fighter jet program and lifting sanctions. However, Ankara has reportedly rejected the offer.

Turkish outlets, including Halk TV and Hurriyet reported that Turkey has rejected this proposal, although Washington appears to be softening its conditions.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during his visit to the US for the UN General Assembly in New York, revived discussions on US sanctions under the CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in a statement earlier this week, indicated that both sides were working towards a "creative solution" concerning Turkey’s S-400 systems.

According to Kathimerini, US officials recently proposed that Turkey either hand over the S-400 systems or place them under American control at Incirlik Air Base, a move aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis.

These developments have sparked concern in Greece, where government officials worry that Turkey’s potential re-entry into the F-35 program could shift the regional balance of power. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised these concerns with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting on 5 September.

Turkey initially joined the F-35 program in 2002 and received its first jets in 2018. However, after Ankara purchased the Russian-made S-400 missile defence system in 2019, the US expelled Turkey from the F-35 program and halted the delivery of jets, even those already purchased.

In response to the Greek report, Hurriyet noted that Turkey recently submitted a list of 25 demands during high-level meetings with US officials. One of Turkey’s key demands is the removal of sanctions imposed under CAATSA, which targets countries that engage with US adversaries, including Russia.

The Turkish newspaper reiterated that Ankara has consistently rejected the US offer to place the S-400 systems under American control, whether at Incirlik or any other location. Ankara has remained firm that the Russian systems will stay under Turkish control without foreign oversight.

Hurriyet also linked the ongoing talks to broader US-Turkey cooperation on sanctions against Russia. Since March, both sides have agreed to coordinate on sanctions before announcing them, ensuring Turkey has time to assess their potential impact on its economy. This coordination is part of the ongoing discussions related to the lifting of CAATSA sanctions on Turkey.

Turkey has repeatedly pointed out that it paid $1.4 billion for F-35 jets that were never delivered, a longstanding grievance that has strained relations between Ankara and Washington for years.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, US-Turkish relations saw some improvement, especially regarding NATO expansion. As part of these renewed ties, the US approved a deal to sell new F-16 jets to Turkey and upgrade around 80 existing aircraft. While the deal has passed through Congress, final approvals are still pending.