Former Minister of State Caglar urges Türkiye to abandon S-400 systems

Former Minister of State Cavit Caglar has made a provocative statement regarding Türkiye’s S-400 missile systems. In an interview with newspaper T24, Caglar argued that Türkiye needs to rid itself of the S-400s.

In response to a question about the S-400s, which have become a major diplomatic issue between Türkiye and the U.S., Caglar stated, “The situation needs to be rectified. If I were in charge, I would sell the S-400s.”

When asked about potential buyers, Caglar suggested, “There are customers available. Pakistan or India could buy them.”

On the matter of whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would permit such a sale, Caglar responded, “Negotiations would need to be conducted. I would remove the S-400s from Türkiye if I were in charge. The U.S. is not supplying us with F-16s due to the S-400s. Our plan was to either acquire additional systems or produce them domestically. We need to find a way out. We have good relations with Russia; the best course of action is to negotiate and explain that, as a NATO member, we cannot use the S-400s against NATO. We need to address this issue promptly.”

Caglar emphasized that the resolution of this matter is the responsibility of the government, not individuals. He added, “If we resolve this, we can acquire F-16s and F-35s. We must reconcile with the United States. We cannot leave NATO. Through dialogue, we can resolve this issue. Russia will understand our stance. We need to navigate this situation carefully.”

Caglar’s remarks highlight ongoing tensions related to Türkiye’s defense procurement and its relationship with both NATO and Russia.