Israel Reportedly Urged UAE to Halt Russian S-400 Deal

Turkish media reports suggest Israel pressured the United Arab Emirates to block a deal for Ankara to sell its Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to Abu Dhabi. The alleged Israeli intervention, detailed in a September 23 report by Turkish journalist Mehmet Ağar on Haber7, aimed to prevent a move that could facilitate Turkey's return to the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program.

According to the report, citing a source, Turkish officials believed in July they had reached understandings with both Moscow and Abu Dhabi regarding the S-400 transfer. However, the deal has not materialized, with the alleged Israeli lobbying being a key reason for the delay. Israel's concern, the report claims, is that removing the S-400s from Turkey would eliminate a major obstacle to restoring security cooperation between Ankara and Washington, particularly regarding the F-35.

Neither Israel, the UAE, nor Turkey has officially confirmed these claims of Israeli pressure. The S-400 issue has been a significant point of contention between Turkey and the U.S. since Ankara's purchase from Russia began in 2019, leading to Turkey's removal from the F-35 program and U.S. sanctions under the CAATSA law. Washington cited concerns that operating Russian systems alongside F-35s could compromise sensitive data.

Recent months have seen renewed efforts to resolve the dispute. In July, Reuters reported that the Kremlin confirmed ongoing discussions with Turkey about the S-400's future, following Turkish media speculation about a potential transfer to a Gulf nation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the matter as "highly sensitive."

The Wall Street Journal previously reported over the summer that Turkey was attempting to transfer the S-400s to the UAE as part of broader efforts to mend ties with Washington and rejoin the F-35 program. However, such a transfer faces hurdles, including Russian consent and potential implications for the UAE's own security relations with the U.S.

U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa recently stated during a visit to Ankara that the possibility of transferring the S-400s to the UAE had been discussed, potentially offering a path to resolve the ongoing crisis. Turkey's long-standing desire to regain access to the F-35 fighter jet remains a key driver. While former President Donald Trump had indicated a willingness to remove sanctions and potentially allow F-35 sales, legal, political, and security obstacles persist, with the S-400's fate being central to these discussions.

The latest Turkish report indicates Ankara is exploring alternative solutions to overcome the difficulties surrounding the S-400 transfer to the UAE, though details of this new approach remain unclear. The resolution of the S-400 issue could significantly impact Turkey's relations with the U.S. and NATO, its F-35 program prospects, and the regional aerial balance of power. Currently, any assertion of Israeli involvement relies solely on Turkish media reports.