1. Turkey may deploy its Russian S-400 Triumf air defenses on the Iraqi border for a planned summer offensive against the PKK.
2. US officials have warned Turkey against activating the S-400, as it could worsen tensions with NATO allies.
3. Missile attacks between Israel and Iran may be a rationale for deploying the S-400, with potential objectives of silencing critics, maintaining military cooperation with Russia, and sending a message to the US about Ankara’s position.
Turkey may deploy its Russian S-400 Triumf air defenses on the Iraqi border for a planned offensive against the PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan. The missile system, received in 2019, could be used against threats bigger than crude drones. The US has warned Turkey against activating the S-400 due to concerns about NATO tensions and the system’s effectiveness against weapons like those used by Iran in attacks against Israel.
The deal for the S-400 cost Turkey $2.5 billion, but it has faced greater losses due to being banned from buying F-35s and facing US sanctions. While the S-400 has not been put into operation, there are reports of a potential deployment on the Iraqi border to counter threats from Iran. The recent missile attacks between Israel and Iran have also been cited as a justification for deploying the S-400 in Turkey’s east.
The deployment of the S-400 could serve multiple objectives for Turkey, including silencing critics, maintaining military cooperation with Russia, and sending a message to the West, particularly the US. However, the Turkish S-400 is incompatible with NATO systems, potentially escalating tensions with the US and impacting Ankara’s involvement in the F-35 program. The decision to purchase the S-400 was criticized as a political move that has put Turkey in a difficult position, with calls for a stronger alliance with NATO.