Israeli Lobbying Halted UAE’s S-400 Purchase from Türkiye

Israel’s influence extends beyond its borders, shaping foreign policy and defense decisions in various countries. Recent reports indicate that Israeli lobbying efforts have stalled the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) planned purchase of Türkiye’s Russian-made S-400 air defense systems. According to a report by Haber7, Turkish officials have since developed a new strategy to navigate this obstacle.

The U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack, highlighted during discussions at the United Nations General Assembly that resolving the legal and regulatory issues surrounding Türkiye’s S-400 purchase will take time. This includes addressing the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions on Ankara and managing the S-400 system’s presence.

Turkish media outlet Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi reported in mid-July that the S-400s were being sold to a Gulf country, later identified as the UAE. However, no official confirmations or new developments have emerged since that initial report.

The delay in the UAE’s purchase is not due to any obstacles from Russia, according to Selvi. Ankara and Moscow had already reached an agreement through their own negotiations. Instead, the real cause of the delay is attributed to Israeli pressure on the UAE government to avoid acquiring the S-400 system from Türkiye.

Selvi stated that Israel’s motive is clear: it seeks to prevent the lifting of CAATSA sanctions and the reopening of Türkiye’s path to the F-35 program. He noted that Israel, which holds significant influence over the UAE, has so far succeeded in blocking Emirati leadership from making a final decision on the S-400 matter.

Ankara has since developed a new approach to resolve the issue and is working toward a final decision through this method. Türkiye’s 2019 purchase of the S-400 system led to its exclusion from the U.S.-led F-35 program and the imposition of CAATSA sanctions. Washington argued that the S-400’s presence alongside the F-35 could allow Russia to gain insights into the jet’s radar signature and stealth capabilities.

Türkiye has maintained that the two systems can coexist without security risks and proposed a joint technical commission to examine the issue. The dispute left six Turkish-funded F-35s stranded in the U.S., with Ankara seeking either reinstatement in the program or reimbursement of its $1.45 billion investment.

Momentum toward a resolution began following the NATO summit in Ankara, where former President Donald Trump signaled a shift in U.S. policy. This development reflects the complex interplay of international relations and the strategic interests of various nations.

Source: Read the original report