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Accounts suggest that Russia is attempting to buy back an air defense system it had previously sold to Turkey, a country that is part of NATO.

A Turkish media source named Nephes recently stated, “Russia has suggested repurchasing the S-400 air defense system it supplied to Turkey.” It is reported that Russia presented a counteroffer to Turkey to replace equipment that was lost during the conflict with Ukraine.

The S-400 Triumph is a missile launching system and multi-tiered mobile platform created to target aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

In 2017, Turkey entered into a $2.5 billion agreement with Russia for two S-400 Triumph systems, which were delivered two years later. During that period, Turkey opted for Russia’s advanced S-400 system as the U.S. and NATO declined to provide the Patriot system.

This agreement led to significant consequences for NATO. When Turkey, a member of the alliance, deployed the Russian air defense system, relations between the U.S. and Turkey deteriorated. The U.S. not only removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program but also imposed penalties under the CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).

Defense specialists believe that should the talks between Russia and Turkey regarding the S-400 system go smoothly this time, it might influence the dynamics of U.S.-Turkey relations.

In 2019, Turkey’s choice was driven by its desire to acquire both the U.S.’s advanced F-35 stealth aircraft and the Russian S-400, which is similar to the THAAD system. Back then, the U.S. strongly objected to this action, with former President Donald Trump expressing worries that sensitive F-35 information might be passed on to Russia through the S-400. Nevertheless, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan remained firm in his stance.

In the end, the U.S. Department of Defense stopped training for Turkish Air Force pilots to fly the F-35 and removed Turkey from the F-35 program. This decision created unrest among NATO members.

Turkey is currently working on its own air defense system initiative known as ‘Steel Dome’.

In June, while monitoring the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, President Erdoğan stated that “the S-400 system is not entirely sufficient to address Turkey’s air defense requirements.”

He also highlighted Turkey’s locally created air defense missile systems—Sıper, Korkut, Hisar, and Songur—saying, “If Turkey had done nothing and only depended on buying weapons, these systems would not have been developed.”