Egypt May Buy Russian S-400 Air Defence Systems From Turkey, Israeli Report Says
Egypt is reportedly considering acquiring Russian S-400 air defence systems from Turkey as part of its strategy to diversify its military suppliers, according to an Israeli report.
The Israeli outlet Natziv Net reported that Turkey may offer its S-400 systems to Egypt, while Qatar and the UAE have also been mentioned as potential buyers. Such a move could have significant strategic implications for the Middle East and Israel.
Turkey acquired the Russian system in 2019, leading the United States to remove Ankara from the F-35 fighter programme and impose sanctions over concerns about the system’s potential access to sensitive military information.
According to the report, transferring the S-400 to another country could allow Turkey to resolve its dispute with Washington without destroying the expensive systems, while also avoiding a direct confrontation with Moscow. Any transfer would reportedly require Russian approval.
Egypt has long sought to diversify its weapons suppliers rather than depend on a single major power. It already operates Russian air defence systems, including the S-300VM, which could make integration of the S-400 comparatively easier.
The potential deal is drawing attention in Israel because of its possible impact on the regional military balance.
