Turkey Seeks to Offload S-400 to Rejoin F-35 Program
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- Turkey is seeking to offload its Russian S-400 air-defense system as a step toward purchasing U.S. F-35 fighter jets, per WSJ.
- An acquisition by the UAE would give it the most diversified air defense in the region (Forbes), but an Israeli analyst cited by EurAsian Times warns Turkey is unlikely to regain F-35 access even if it sells the S-400s to the UAE or Qatar.
Why it matters: The S-400 remains the core sticking point between Turkey and the U.S., and an Israeli analyst's warning suggests offloading the system to the UAE or Qatar won't automatically restore Turkey's standing in the F-35 program — while the UAE would emerge with the region's deepest air-defense portfolio.
