The United States proposes that Turkey transferred the Russian S-400 systems to the “other side.”

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkish Foreign Minister, stated that his country refuses this offer.

According to him, the United States has submitted various S-400 proposals.

“They made proposals that directly relate to our sovereignty, like giving us control over it, providing it elsewhere. Where are our independence and sovereignty?” Çavuşoğlu said.

The Foreign Minister claimed that he refused the U.S. request to send S-400 SAMs to Ukraine.

“The U.S. asked if Turkey would send S-400 to Ukraine, and we said no,” he added.

In 2017, Turkey signed a contract with the Russian Federation to purchase S-400 systems worth $2.5 billion.

In 2019, the Turkish side received components of the Russian system and integrated them into its air defense.

And at the same time, it tested the capabilities of the S-400 on military aircraft purchased earlier from the United States.

In December 2020, the United States imposed sanctions against Turkey for “knowingly large-scale operating with an organization that is part of the defense/intelligence sector of the Russian government or works on its behalf.”

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization also excludes any possibility of integrating Russian S-400 systems into its air defense.

The North Atlantic Alliance continues working on alternative options for Turkey. NATO is trying to find alternative solutions that could include American Patriot or French SAMP/T air defense systems.