December 2025 marked Ankara’s sharpest break with Moscow when Erdogan asked Putin to take back the Russian-made S-400 system after years of defending the purchase.
Turkey’s reset was driven by domestic strain—50,000-plus earthquake deaths, nearly $100 billion in damage, high inflation and a currency crisis—along with sanctions and lost F-35 work tied to the S-400 deal.
That shift has moved beyond rhetoric: Turkey lifted its block on Sweden’s NATO entry, cut Russian trade channels, reduced Russian gas dependence to below 40% by end-2025 and pursued 1,500 U.S. LNG cargoes.
Recent security shocks reinforced the turn. During the U.S.-led war against Iran, NATO-linked defenses intercepted missiles entering Turkish airspace while Turkey’s costly S-400s stayed idle.
Ahead of the NATO summit Ankara will host in July, Turkey is expanding alliance cooperation through Patriot deployments, SAMP/T talks, a Black Sea demining effort and a planned multinational corps by 2028.
With its new ICBM, is Turkey's return to NATO a partnership or a play for power?
Why did Turkey’s Russian S-400s remain idle during Iran's missile attack?
Can Turkey’s pro-Western pivot survive the economic shockwave from the U.S.-Iran war?
Turkey’s Return of S-400s to Russia: A Turning Point for F-35 Access and Western Defense Alignment
Overview
In December 2025, Turkish President Erdogan requested the return of the Russian S-400 air defense systems, marking a major shift in Turkey’s defense policy. This move was driven by Turkey’s ambition to rejoin the F-35 program after being excluded due to its earlier S-400 purchase. By returning the S-400s, Turkey signaled its intent to mend ties with NATO allies and modernize its military with advanced Western aircraft like Eurofighter Typhoons and F-35 jets. This strategic reorientation highlights Turkey’s efforts to strengthen its position within Western defense frameworks and restore its role as a key NATO partner.