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| Russian Air Defense System |
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has announced that Turkey has rejected a proposal from the United States to send its Russian-made S-400 air defense missile system to Ukraine. Cavusoglu stated that the request was unacceptable as it infringed on Turkish sovereignty.
Cavusoglu revealed during an interview that the US had asked Turkey to send the S-400s to Ukraine but Turkey firmly declined. The proposals made by the US included demands that directly impacted Turkey's sovereignty, such as relinquishing control of the system or transferring it to another location. Cavusoglu questioned the implications for Turkey's independence and sovereignty in accepting such proposals.
Turkey, as a NATO member, has sought to maintain a neutral stance in the Ukraine-Russia conflict due to its significant economic ties with Russia. Soner Cagaptay, an expert from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), described Turkey's policy towards the war as non-binary. Turkey has supported Ukraine by providing military assistance, including defense and attack hardware like Bayraktar drones. However, Turkey has also maintained economic relations with Russia, granting Moscow access to global trade, markets, and airspace.
In addition to brokering a deal between Ukraine and Russia to ensure uninterrupted grain exports during the conflict, Turkey facilitated peace negotiations between the warring parties in the initial phase of the war. However, these efforts were derailed by Washington and London.
Reports indicate that the Pentagon engaged in discussions with Turkey, proposing to send the S-400 system to Ukraine in exchange for granting Turkey access to the F-35 fighter jet program and lifting the sanctions imposed when Turkey initially purchased the S-400 from Russia, despite US objections.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the request to supply Ukraine with S-400 missile systems as a ploy to create problems for Turkey. He has previously voiced concerns about the intentions behind such proposals.
Turkey became the first NATO member to purchase Russia's S-400 air defense missile system when it signed an agreement with Moscow in 2017. The first batch of S-400s was delivered to Turkey in July 2019, despite warnings from the US.