Media: Erdoğan could announce plans to resell Russian S-400 air defence systems

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could announce plans on July 10 to resell Türkiye's Russian-made S-400 air defence systems to a third country, CNN Türk reports.

Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, citing unnamed sources, earlier reported that the systems could be sold to a Gulf state, most likely the United Arab Emirates or Qatar. 

Türkiye purchased four battalions of the S-400 air defence system from Russia under a $2.5 billion agreement signed in 2017. Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport announced in October 2019 that deliveries under the contract had been completed.

The acquisition of the S-400 systems led to a sharp deterioration in defence ties between Ankara and Washington. Following the purchase, the United States removed Türkiye from the multinational F-35 fighter jet programme, arguing that operating the Russian-made air defence system alongside the advanced aircraft posed security risks.

By Sabina Mammadli