According to several corroborating sources, both Russian and Turkish, the delivery of the first batch of Russian S400s delivered to Turkey should arrive on Ottoman soil this Sunday, several months before the initially planned date. It seems that both the Turkish and Russian authorities wanted to rush this delivery, so as to put an end to the current status quo with the United States.
If the Turkish President, RT Erdogan, remained firm on this delivery, despite threats from Washington, he also wanted to be confident, assuring several times that he did not think that the United States would apply sanctions to his country . Likewise, he maintained that the Ankara Air Force was awaiting delivery of the 100 F35As ordered, and that he had no doubt that this would be carried out, while emphasizing strict compliance by Turkish industries as by its armies, of their commitments to the F35 program as well as to NATO.
By maintaining such a position, the Turkish president thus places all responsibility for probable future tensions with Washington solely on the American authorities, freeing him from numerous obstacles to position himself as a victim, and therefore justify all the decisions he will make. to take if necessary. This posture is also dictated by the loss of notoriety he has suffered, particularly following the loss of Istanbul town hall on June 24 by his party. There is no doubt that the radicalization of certain positions expressed, and the fear of an economic war with the United States, worked to its disadvantage in this matter, and therefore explains this superficial appeasement.
Because if the status quo was maintained in front of the public, numerous information showed that the Turkish authorities prepared themselves, during this period, to be able to face a technological, military and economic embargo, from the United States, and potentially from some of his allies. Thus, the rapprochement with Moscow accelerated, with the announcement of Turkey's participation in the S500 program, the order for Kamov helicopters for civil security, and above all the opening of discussions about the Su57 and technological support for the T-FX program of a new generation fighter to replace, from 2026, the F16s of its air force, in the event that the British partners of the program, BAe and Rolls-Royce, were also to withdraw . Other contacts would have been made, this time with Beijing, regarding the FC-31, whose characteristics are very similar to the program of the manufacturer TAI.
The lack of reaction to recent Turkish statements suggests that Washington is preparing to face this delivery, both vis-Ã -vis its parliament and its allies. Regardless, the outcome of this affair is now near.