In order to rejoin the U.S. F-35 programme, Turkey is actively attempting to sell its Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defence systems (two batteries, 120 interceptor missiles, originally acquired in 2017 for about US$2.5 billion). The leading contender is the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Russia views a sale to the UAE “positively,” and discussions among Moscow, Ankara, and Abu Dhabi are reported to have been ongoing for months. Israeli sources told ESD that the UAE is the “top candidate.”
According to the initial 2017 end-user agreement, Moscow is required to officially authorise any re-export, and Putin’s approval remains awaited. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described it as an “incredibly delicate matter” with discussions ongoing. Independently, US senators have cautioned that merely transferring to a third country may not completely address Washington’s security issues. The UAE is the most reliable purchaser, while Qatar serves as the second option.
The proposed deal creates severe concerns in Israel. According to Netanyahu’s office, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brought up the matter during a recent phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, cautioning about “the severity of the statements made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his people against the existence of the State of Israel, as well as the need for security zones along Israel’s borders.”
Arie Egozi
