The British website "Middle East Eye" has blew up a major behind-the-scenes geopolitical surprise between Ankara, Moscow and Abu Dhabi, to end the ongoing crisis between Turkey and the United States over the Russian S-400 air defense system.
The report followed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's sensational statement to reporters, "Keep an eye on us," in response to a question about how to solve the Russian system dilemma for the advanced American F-35 fighter jets.
The possibility of selling the system to the UAE
Russia has shown full flexibility and has given Turkey the "green light" and preliminary approval to sell the Russian S-400 air defense system currently in its arsenal to the United Arab Emirates, the strategic report revealed.
Informed Russian sources reported that Moscow does not object to the option of transferring the system to a Gulf state, while identical Turkish sources confirmed that the UAE, which already has former Russian defense systems such as the Pantsir, is strongly interested in completing this deal to diversify and enhance its air defense capabilities and protect its airspace.
Kremlin confirms talks, circumvention of CAATSA
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that official consultations are underway with the Turkish side in a public statement, saying: "Russia and Turkey have held talks on the possibility of reselling the S-400 systems in Ankara's arsenal. It is a very sensitive issue, and discussions are ongoing with our Turkish partners on this issue."
Observers believe that the completion of the deal directly between Turkey and the UAE represents a genius diplomatic way out, as Russia will not participate directly in it as a selling party, and it will also exempt all regional parties from the sanctions of the Anti-American Adversaries Act known as CAATSA, which explains the great positive atmosphere that prevailed in the recent NATO summit.
U.S. President Donald Trump had pledged Turkish President Erdogan to fully lift CAATSA sanctions on Ankara and reopened the door to the delivery of F-35 jets to the Turkish military, to which Erdogan confidently commented in front of the media, saying, "The F-35 program is not a new issue for us. Mr. Trump always keeps his word."
U.S. Engine Flow for Turkish Defense Industry
Ankara has passed the critical technical hurdle related to the F110 engines intended for the Turkish national fighter fifth-generation "Kan". Following the official notification sent by the US administration to Congress, the 15-day legal review period expired without any opposition resolution or veto to be used to block the sale by US lawmakers, ensuring that US engines flow to the Turkish defense industry without legal or political impediments in the future.
Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 system in 2019 is the deepest point of contention in relations between Washington and Ankara, as the US administration imposed economic and military sanctions on Turkey's defense industries and excluded Ankara from the F-35 fighter program.
The option of transferring the system to a third party such as the UAE represents a rare international settlement that preserves Moscow's commercial interests, giving Ankara a ticket back to the Western military technology club and securing its new-generation aircraft engines.
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