Turkey intends to sell Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM), purchased from Moscow nine years ago, to one of the Persian Gulf countries, Hurriyet newspaper reported, citing its own information.
According to some sources, the buyer of Russian air defense systems will be the United Arab Emirates, according to others – Qatar.
The deal is expected to be announced on July 10, according to the newspaper. The previous day, the parties “settled their final differences,” Hurriyet newspaper wrote.
At the same time, for the sale of the S-400 system, it is necessary for Moscow to approve the deal – and this presupposes the conclusion of an agreement when Ankara bought the complexes. Hurriyet newspaper reported on July 9 that Ankara was “verifying the position of the Russian side,” which “does not object in principle to this option.”
Türkiye purchased S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia in 2017, concluding a contract worth $2.5 billion. For this reason, the United States imposed sanctions and refused to provide Türkiye with equipment for F-35 fighters, and also suspended Ankara’s participation in the program to produce these aircraft.
Over the past years, Turkey has sought to return the S-400 systems – in particular, this issue was discussed at a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin in Turkmenistan in December 2025. discussion For the United States, there are different options: storing the complexes in warehouses, dismantling the launch mechanisms with their subsequent placement in a joint facility, or transferring the systems to a verifiable non-combat state.