So in 2020 Turkey bought defense systems from Russia so Trumps Administration got upset that they didn’t want the F35 being tested with them. So now in 2026 Trumps Administration says our hissy fit is just blocking ourselves from potential buyers?
At least they can admit they were wrong I guess, just takes 5-6 years.
Didn’t Turkey return those S-300 to russia last year that’s why they’re aiming to get F35s? At least I remember reading last year russia requested to buy those air defences back
The S-400 is still with Turkey but some ideas are being floated around on what to do with it because it’s being cited as a legal impediment for getting Turkey back in on the F-35. Russia as you say is very happy to buy it back because their air defenses aren’t doing so hot. Turkey may not want to do that though because they favor Ukraine over Russia politically - an expansionist Russia is really bad news for Turkey. Another option is to sell it to some other party which would be better for Ukraine. However, they would need Russia to sign off on such a sale and that could present some difficulties. If they just unilaterally sell without Russia’s approval then that makes them look far less reliable to follow the terms in arms deals which could block them from getting nicer arms or make them far more expensive to buy upfront to price in such risks.
Consider- Trump no longer cares about S400 getting a good look at F35 since he’s compromised AND he’s got his fancy new F-47 (on paper, all that matters to trump)
So in 2020 Turkey bought defense systems from Russia so Trumps Administration got upset that they didn’t want the F35 being tested with them. So now in 2026 Trumps Administration says our hissy fit is just blocking ourselves from potential buyers?
At least they can admit they were wrong I guess, just takes 5-6 years.
Didn’t Turkey return those S-300 to russia last year that’s why they’re aiming to get F35s? At least I remember reading last year russia requested to buy those air defences back
The S-400 is still with Turkey but some ideas are being floated around on what to do with it because it’s being cited as a legal impediment for getting Turkey back in on the F-35. Russia as you say is very happy to buy it back because their air defenses aren’t doing so hot. Turkey may not want to do that though because they favor Ukraine over Russia politically - an expansionist Russia is really bad news for Turkey. Another option is to sell it to some other party which would be better for Ukraine. However, they would need Russia to sign off on such a sale and that could present some difficulties. If they just unilaterally sell without Russia’s approval then that makes them look far less reliable to follow the terms in arms deals which could block them from getting nicer arms or make them far more expensive to buy upfront to price in such risks.
Consider- Trump no longer cares about S400 getting a good look at F35 since he’s compromised AND he’s got his fancy new F-47 (on paper, all that matters to trump)