US Senate Proposes "Turkey's S-400 Purchase by US"... Attempt to Normalize Bilateral Relations

US Cancels F-35 Exports to Turkey Over Stubbornness on Russian S-400 Acquisition
Opposition Expected if Turkey Accepts US Proposal Due to Risk of Russian Technology Leakage

The S-400 missile mobile launcher appeared at the Russian Victory Day parade on the 24th (local time)
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Senate has proposed legislation suggesting that the U.S. government purchase the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system that Turkey introduced last year. If this proposal is accepted in the Senate, it is expected not only to restore the strained bilateral relations following Turkey's acquisition of the S-400 but also to resume Turkey's purchase of F-35 fighter jets, which was anticipated to be worth $8 billion (approximately 9.5816 trillion KRW).

According to foreign media including Russia's TASS on the 29th (local time), U.S. Republican Senator John Thune introduced an amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act allowing the U.S. Army to use missile procurement funds to purchase the Russian-made S-400 systems held by Turkey. Previously, despite opposition from the U.S., Turkey acquired four battalions of the S-400 from Russia last year for $2.5 billion, which subsequently worsened relations between the U.S. and Turkey.

At that time, the U.S. and NATO member countries, which had decided to participate in the U.S. F-35 development program and procure over 100 F-35s, demanded that Turkey withdraw its purchase of the S-400, warning that if Turkey acquired the S-400, U.S. and NATO military secrets could be leaked to Russia. When Turkey resisted and insisted on acquiring the S-400, the U.S. excluded Turkey from the F-35 development program and canceled the delivery of F-35 fighter jets Turkey had purchased.

The Donald Trump administration has not yet imposed sanctions on Turkey, but if Turkey continues to retain the S-400, it is subject to sanctions from the U.S. under the "Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)" passed in 2017. The U.S. Senate expects that if the U.S. government can purchase the S-400 from Turkey, it could achieve improved relations with Turkey, the resumption of Turkey's F-35 program and purchases, and analysis of the Russian S-400 capabilities. However, since there is a risk of S-400 technology leaking to the U.S., Russian opposition is anticipated, and it remains uncertain whether Turkey will accept the proposal.