Turkey has opened negotiations with Russia to transfer its Russian-made S-400 air-defence systems to a Gulf state, a step designed to resolve a years-long dispute with Washington and clear the path for Ankara’s readmission to the F-35 fighter programme. The Kremlin confirmed on Friday that contacts were underway, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing the matter as “extremely sensitive.” Turkish pro-government daily Hürriyet reported that a sale to the United Arab Emirates or Qatar was imminent, though officials in Ankara have not confirmed a final agreement, and Bloomberg cited sources saying Turkey is still seeking Moscow’s formal consent for re-export.

Viewed from Washington, the potential transfer addresses a core congressional demand: that Turkey must no longer possess the S-400s for sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) to be lifted. President Donald Trump, speaking after the NATO summit in Ankara, signalled his willingness to remove the penalties and consider F-35 sales, but stressed no final decision had been made. US lawmakers have indicated they require verifiable proof that the systems are no longer on Turkish soil and that Ankara has committed not to pursue similar Russian defence cooperation in the future. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed optimism, saying there was political will on both sides and that he expected a conclusion “soon.”

In Moscow, the Kremlin’s acknowledgment of talks underscored that any transfer would require Russian authorisation under the original 2017 contract. Russian parliamentarians noted that such agreements typically prohibit re-export without the supplier’s consent, framing the issue as a test of trust between the two countries. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched an unusually public campaign against the prospective F-35 sale, appearing on US television to warn that advanced stealth fighters in Turkish hands would “destroy the power balance” in the Middle East. Israeli security officials view Turkey’s expanding military footprint in Syria and its hostile rhetoric toward Israel as signs of a strategic ambition to fill the vacuum left by Iran’s diminished regional influence. In the Gulf, both the UAE and Qatar have faced Iranian ballistic missile strikes in the past year and have long sought to diversify their air-defence capabilities, though neither has officially commented on the reported negotiations.

The unfolding arrangement, if completed, would remove one of the most persistent obstacles in US-Turkish defence ties and potentially allow Ankara to acquire up to 40 F-35 jets, as well as secure engines for its indigenous KAAN fighter. It would also mark a rare instance of a NATO member brokering the re-export of Russian strategic weaponry with Moscow’s involvement. However, the deal remains contingent on Russia’s consent, US congressional certification, and the resolution of technical questions surrounding the systems’ operational status. Further discussions are expected in the coming weeks, with no binding timeline yet announced.