Reference News Network, December 22 report: According to the French newspaper Le Monde's website on December 19, Turkey is reportedly set to return four S-400 long-range air defense systems to Russia in order to rejoin the US fifth-generation fighter jet F-35 program, highlighting Turkey's desire to continue advancing the easing of relations with the United States.

Bloomberg reported on the 17th that during the "Year of International Peace and Trust Forum" in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on the 12th, one of the topics discussed by Turkish President Erdogan and Russian President Putin was returning these advanced Russian air defense systems. Given the increasingly intense aerial warfare between Ukraine and Russia, this possibility would be detrimental to Ukraine.

Since September 2017, when Erdogan announced the purchase of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems, this deal has put Ankara's relations with Western allies in a difficult situation. At the time, this decision marked a significant shift for Turkey, which had been a NATO member since 1952, highlighting the country's leader's desire to distance itself from traditional NATO allies and instead build a strategic alliance with Moscow.

Two years later, the missile systems were delivered, and then-US President Trump immediately expelled Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet cooperation project.

Now, after months of relationship improvement with Washington and several European countries, Ankara seems determined to get rid of these air defense systems, which it claims have not yet been activated. Bloomberg cited sources saying that Turkey has requested Russia to refund the purchase cost at that time. The contract for these four systems (two made in Russia and two assembled in Turkey) was worth about 2.2 billion euros.

The Turkish Presidency and the Ministry of Defense have not commented, while the Kremlin denied having received any such refund request during the talks in Turkmenistan.

Two days before Erdogan's meeting with Putin, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barak, posted on X platform, stating, "According to U.S. law, Ankara must stop using and owning the S-400 systems to rejoin the F-35 program."

On the 16th, Barak met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The next day, a U.S. delegation led by former White House foreign affairs advisor Philip Gordon expressed satisfaction with the progress: "I am in Ankara, and I feel that Turkey is willing to resolve this issue... getting rid of the S-400s would be a major step forward."

The S-400 system can shoot down fighter jets and ballistic missiles, and its production is complex and costly.

Russian affairs expert Nikolai Mitrokhin pointed out: "Considering the losses, four S-400s account for about one-fifth of Russia's current inventory. The Russian military can use them to protect naval bases, airports, and ports." (Translated by Pan Geping)

Original source: toutiao.com/article/7586511871936430592/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.