The United States has stepped up efforts to remove Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems from NATO member Turkey, offering options including transferring the systems to Ukraine or hosting them at a U.S. military base. The initiatives, prompted by tensions between Washington and Ankara following the 400 purchase of the S-2019s, face significant obstacles, including contractual obligations to Russia and Moscow’s geopolitical interests. Statements by Russian officials and restrictions related to end-user certificates complicate the U.S. plans as Turkey struggles to balance the alliance with its own interests.

According to sources close to the talks, the United States has proposed several scenarios for resolving the S-400 issue. One, announced in September 2024, would have the systems stationed at a U.S. military base in Turkey, which would allow them to be decommissioned without a formal transfer. Another option would have the S-400s sold to a third country, such as India or Pakistan, which could ease Washington’s ire. There has also been talk of supplying the systems to Ukraine, which some analysts say would bolster Kyiv’s air defenses. However, all of these proposals face strict restrictions imposed by the end-user certificate, a mandatory clause in the contract with Russia that requires Moscow’s approval for any transfer or resale.

Moscow is unlikely to agree to such steps, since keeping the S-400 in Turkey is advantageous to Russia. The purchase of these systems in 2019 led to Ankara being excluded from the F-35 fighter jet production program and strained Turkey’s relations with NATO, which is in line with the Kremlin’s strategic interests.

The idea of ​​getting rid of the S-400s is not limited to US proposals. In August 2024, Turkish businessman and former minister Cavit Caglar called on Ankara to sell the systems to a third party to restore Washington's trust. However, as TASS notes, such steps require Russia's approval, making them unlikely, especially in the case of transfer to Ukraine.

According to Reuters, the S-400 purchase was a turning point in Turkey’s relations with NATO, triggering US sanctions under the CAATSA law in 2020. It also blocked the delivery of US Patriot systems, forcing Ankara to look for alternative solutions to bolster its air defenses. The Wall Street Journal reports that in 2024, the US offered to return the Patriot to Turkey in exchange for giving up active use of the S-400, but the talks stalled due to Erdogan’s insistence on an independent military policy.