Turkey is planning to sell its Russian-made S-400 missile systems to a Gulf country as a way to clear the legal path for...

Turkey is planning to sell its Russian-made S-400 missile systems to a Gulf country as a way to clear the legal path for purchasing American F-35 fighter jets, according to SKAI's Istanbul correspondent Manolis Kostidis. The deal, reportedly discussed between Trump and Erdogan, would give the U.S. Congress the legal cover it needs to approve the F-35 sale. Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after it went ahead with the S-400 purchase, triggering sanctions under U.S. law that block arms sales to countries operating Russian defense systems. A secondary option was also explored: dismantling the S-400s and transferring them to an American military base inside Turkey. White House officials, however, reportedly believe that arrangement would not satisfy Congress's objections. Russia, interestingly, has not pushed back. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited the Kremlin, briefed Lavrov on the plan, and received no objection. That silence from Moscow is being read as a quiet green light. Turkey has also frozen its F-16 modernization program, essentially using it as leverage until progress is made on the F-35 front. Ankara's goal, once the S-400s are gone, is to quickly take delivery of six F-35s already in the United States and currently in use by the American Navy. The formula is being described as the strongest scenario on the table, though nothing has been finalized. How Congress responds will be the deciding factor. #Turkey #F35 #NATO