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Today's Zaman (Turkey)
February 28, 2015 Saturday
Turkey's prolonged missile issue
GOKHAN -
Turkey's prolonged missile issueThe prolonged issue of buying a new
missile defense system has revealed that Turkey is lost when it comes
to foreign policy.As many know, Turkey has declared its intention to
buy a missile system from China, and that has upset NATO considerably.
It is basic knowledge that NATO will not accept the integration of a
Chinese system into its structure. For a while, Turkish officials
argued that they have the software knowledge necessary for integrating
the Chinese and NATO missile systems seamlessly.
In fact, nobody believed this. A country incapable of producing any
part of a missile system cannot possibly generate a software system
that integrates two very complex systems.
More recently, Turkish Defense Minister Ismet YIlmaz said, The Chinese
system will not be integrated into the NATO system This is as strange
as the previous claim about integration. Can one sincerely believe the
possibility of a state's simultaneous deployment of a NATO and Chinese
defense system? Yet, as sure can be, YIlmaz said the Chinese system
will be integrated with Turkey's national defense system and will
therefore be used independently of the NATO systemOne should bow to
the genius of this solution -- Turkey has discovered the way to
simultaneously deploy two gigantic, competing defense systems or at
least integrate the Chinese defense system into its own! How is it
that no other state has hit upon this brilliant strategy? Two sizable
problems lurk.
First, why does NATO allow Turkey, its ally, to choose Chinese
technology in such a critical area? Second, is it technically possible
to integrate the Chinese and the Turkish systems?Meanwhile,
Ankara-based journalist Servet Yanatma has argued that Ankara wants to
use the missile issue to restrain US and French declarations about the
1915 events regarding the Armenians. That is, Ankara is not sure about
the US position on this issue, which is to be laid out in April, so it
is keeping the Chinese missile system on the table as a major
bargaining chip against both the US and France.
The fact is that both countries want to sell their missile defense
systems to Turkey. Experts estimate that the total cost of such a
project would be around $3.
5 billion. While neither the US nor France is disposed to change its
position on the Armenian issue, $3.
5 billion might well give them pause.Ironically, the Armenian issue
supports a lucrative lobby business between Turkey and the West.
Every year, Turkey spends a significant amount of money attempting to
prevent other countries from adopting an agenda as regards the
Armenian issue that would have negative implications for Turkey.
Moreover, several other issues as irrelevant as the missile defense
system have somehow become linked to the Armenian issue.
Today, Turkey's relations with the West are in crisis. President Recep
Tayyip ErdoIan's brand of Islamism is putting Turkey on a new course.
But is ErdoIan likely to be reconsidering Turkey's relations with
NATO? My answer is yes. Turkey's Islamists today see NATO as a
necessity, not as an ideological choice.
If they can manage it, these Islamists will take to questioning
Turkey's relations with NATO. In this vein, the missile defense system
is also a litmus test.
Will Turkey not refrain from putting its vital relations with NATO at
risk?Let me clarify my opinion. Today, Turkey's continuing
relationship with the West, and especially with NATO, is as it is
because Ankara has failed to create an alternate route.
Many in the West still think that Ankara will not risk its essential
link to NATO, but that is not a sound perspective. Turkey is ruled
today by a group of people who invest no hope in relations with the
West.
Therefore, Ankara's affair with China on the terrain of the defense
missile system is a preliminary case study that displays how Turkey's
new routes were pioneered.
February 28, 2015 Saturday
Turkey's prolonged missile issue
GOKHAN -
Turkey's prolonged missile issueThe prolonged issue of buying a new
missile defense system has revealed that Turkey is lost when it comes
to foreign policy.As many know, Turkey has declared its intention to
buy a missile system from China, and that has upset NATO considerably.
It is basic knowledge that NATO will not accept the integration of a
Chinese system into its structure. For a while, Turkish officials
argued that they have the software knowledge necessary for integrating
the Chinese and NATO missile systems seamlessly.
In fact, nobody believed this. A country incapable of producing any
part of a missile system cannot possibly generate a software system
that integrates two very complex systems.
More recently, Turkish Defense Minister Ismet YIlmaz said, The Chinese
system will not be integrated into the NATO system This is as strange
as the previous claim about integration. Can one sincerely believe the
possibility of a state's simultaneous deployment of a NATO and Chinese
defense system? Yet, as sure can be, YIlmaz said the Chinese system
will be integrated with Turkey's national defense system and will
therefore be used independently of the NATO systemOne should bow to
the genius of this solution -- Turkey has discovered the way to
simultaneously deploy two gigantic, competing defense systems or at
least integrate the Chinese defense system into its own! How is it
that no other state has hit upon this brilliant strategy? Two sizable
problems lurk.
First, why does NATO allow Turkey, its ally, to choose Chinese
technology in such a critical area? Second, is it technically possible
to integrate the Chinese and the Turkish systems?Meanwhile,
Ankara-based journalist Servet Yanatma has argued that Ankara wants to
use the missile issue to restrain US and French declarations about the
1915 events regarding the Armenians. That is, Ankara is not sure about
the US position on this issue, which is to be laid out in April, so it
is keeping the Chinese missile system on the table as a major
bargaining chip against both the US and France.
The fact is that both countries want to sell their missile defense
systems to Turkey. Experts estimate that the total cost of such a
project would be around $3.
5 billion. While neither the US nor France is disposed to change its
position on the Armenian issue, $3.
5 billion might well give them pause.Ironically, the Armenian issue
supports a lucrative lobby business between Turkey and the West.
Every year, Turkey spends a significant amount of money attempting to
prevent other countries from adopting an agenda as regards the
Armenian issue that would have negative implications for Turkey.
Moreover, several other issues as irrelevant as the missile defense
system have somehow become linked to the Armenian issue.
Today, Turkey's relations with the West are in crisis. President Recep
Tayyip ErdoIan's brand of Islamism is putting Turkey on a new course.
But is ErdoIan likely to be reconsidering Turkey's relations with
NATO? My answer is yes. Turkey's Islamists today see NATO as a
necessity, not as an ideological choice.
If they can manage it, these Islamists will take to questioning
Turkey's relations with NATO. In this vein, the missile defense system
is also a litmus test.
Will Turkey not refrain from putting its vital relations with NATO at
risk?Let me clarify my opinion. Today, Turkey's continuing
relationship with the West, and especially with NATO, is as it is
because Ankara has failed to create an alternate route.
Many in the West still think that Ankara will not risk its essential
link to NATO, but that is not a sound perspective. Turkey is ruled
today by a group of people who invest no hope in relations with the
West.
Therefore, Ankara's affair with China on the terrain of the defense
missile system is a preliminary case study that displays how Turkey's
new routes were pioneered.