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A Turkish source has denied reports that Türkiye might return or sell its Russian S-400 air defense systems, calling such claims unfounded, RIA Novosti reported Monday.
"Where did you get these reports? There is no such situation," the source told the Russian news agency, responding to recent reports about the fate of the controversial missile defense systems.
The denial follows conflicting media reports about the S-400 systems' future. Turkish columnist Murat Gurgen wrote in early September that Türkiye might return the S-400 Triumph air defense systems purchased from Russia or sell them to another country.
The report claimed that Russia has approached Türkiye about repurchasing the S-400 systems it sold to Ankara in 2019, citing alleged Russian inventory shortages and growing demand from third countries.
The Turkish Defense Ministry has not yet commented on these reports.
Russia and Türkiye signed a contract in 2017 for a regimental S-400 set worth $2.5 billion, with delivery completed between summer and autumn 2019.
Türkiye received its first S-400 components on July 12, 2019, following the 2017 contract signed after unsuccessful attempts to purchase American Patriot systems.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had announced the systems would be fully operational by April 2020.
The S-400 purchase severely damaged U.S.-Türkiye defense ties. Washington removed Ankara from the F-35 fighter jet program and imposed CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) sanctions after Türkiye proceeded with the Russian deal despite American objections.
Reports suggest Ankara may view a potential buyback favorably as it continues negotiations with the United States for F-16 fighter jets and seeks readmission to the F-35 program.
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