Turkey is demanding that Russia take back the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems that Ankara purchased in 2016, causing a serious crisis in relations with the US and NATO. In return, Turkey wants to gain access to American F-35 fighters and, more importantly, create a global service hub for these aircraft on its territory, which would bring the country enormous technological and financial dividends.
Former Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Serhiy Korsunskiy said this in an interview with Yuriy Romanenko.
"When Erdogan bought the S-400 in 2016, the Americans said: no F-35s. Now they're telling the Russians: take back the S-400, because we want F-35s. This is a very interesting development," the diplomat noted.
Korsunskiy emphasized that for Turkey the issue is not simply purchasing F-35s – that's not the end goal. "The goal was for Turkey to create a global F-35 service hub. Imagine how many of them fly from Japan to Portugal, and if Turkey had a hub for their repair – that's crazy money, that's participation in programs that would technologically give them access to F-35 technologies," he explained.
According to the ex-ambassador, this strategic decision fits into the general trend of Turkey building a more balanced policy. "Erdogan has started building a more balanced policy. The situation has now changed," Korsunskiy said.
The diplomat also noted the uniqueness of Turkey's geopolitical position: "Only two countries in the world are located on two continents – Turkey and Russia. For a state to stand firmly on its feet, it must stand firmly in both Europe and Asia. Russia didn't just shoot its European leg – it amputated it. Turkey, however, is building balance."