Israel Thwarts Turkish Deal for Russian Missiles to UAE

Israel has reportedly intervened to block a secret Turkish plan to sell Russian S-400 missile defense systems to the United Arab Emirates, a move that could have paved the way for Turkey's return to the F-35 fighter jet program. The Turkish news outlet Haber7 reported that Ankara had reached an agreement in principle to transfer the S-400s to Abu Dhabi, which would have satisfied a key U.S. condition for lifting sanctions and potentially restoring Turkey's access to the advanced American aircraft.

Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing the S-400s from Russia, sparking U.S. concerns that the system could compromise the stealth capabilities of the F-35. The U.S. stipulated that Turkey could not possess both systems. The proposed deal with the UAE was seen as a way for Turkey to circumvent this restriction, as the Russian missiles would no longer be on Turkish soil.

According to the Haber7 report, Israel became aware of the potential deal and exerted significant pressure on the UAE leadership to reject the purchase of the Russian weaponry. Jerusalem understood that the removal of the S-400s from Turkey would lead to the lifting of sanctions and equip Erdogan with a strategic weapon that could undermine Israel's military edge. This Israeli diplomatic effort reportedly led to the freezing of the entire transaction.

This alleged clandestine operation adds another layer to Israel's ongoing efforts to prevent Turkey from acquiring F-35s. Previously, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had lobbied the Trump administration, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich acknowledged Israel's public and behind-the-scenes actions on the matter. The current report suggests Israel's strategy extended to directly preventing Turkey from finding a buyer for the Russian system.

Despite the reported setback, Turkish officials are reportedly working on an alternative plan to move the Russian missiles, aiming to appease the U.S. administration. Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara has expressed optimism that the dispute will be resolved, emphasizing Turkey's importance as a NATO ally.