Erdogan plays the “Russian card”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited Russia to organize a joint production of anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) S-500.
- quoted by the Turkish Anatolian Agency News the words of the Turkish leader.
The Turkish President explained that Ankara is taking steps to develop its own defense industry.
- emphasized Erdogan.
Erdogan’s statement is a direct consequence of the pressure exerted on Turkey by the United States and NATO in connection with the deal to acquire from Russia two S-400 air defense divisions for the Turkish armed forces. The United States and NATO argue that if Russian weapons are bought by the Turks, then Turkey will not receive 5-generation F-35 fighters, the deliveries of which are already partially paid for by Ankara.
It should be noted that the desire of the Turkish leader to play the “Russian card” on the issue of re-equipment of the armed forces is a purely political act, against the background of the upcoming snap elections of the Turkish president, in which the candidature of Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also present.
Statements about the “joint production” of one or another weapon system with one country or another look solid and solid, but in any case we are talking about the production in Turkey of a small number of non-key elements (in Russian terminology - components) of the military system.
For example, some components under the already concluded contract for the supply of S-400 will be produced in Turkey. At the same time, Turkey is a Level 3 partner in the F-35 development and production program, along with Australia, Denmark, Norway and Canada, and also, as long as it is planned, its enterprises will act as subcontractors for the production of some components for this aircraft.
The topic of confrontation with the United States and NATO during the election campaign in Turkey is exaggerated quite actively. Erdogan himself promised to close NATO bases in Turkey, including the Incirlik air base, which is actively used by the US Air Force. Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Janikli called the unacceptable threat to the United States to refuse the supply of F-35 Ankara.
- The head of the Turkish defense department said to the Anatolian news agency.
And another candidate in the Turkish presidential race, the leader of the Rodina party, Dogu Perincek went even further - he said that Turkey would quit NATO altogether if it won the election.
Although not all political, and the more so that the election promises are being fulfilled, one should still expect that some of the anti-American and anti-NATO ideas voiced by Turkish politicians will still try to realize. So in any case, no matter who wins the Turkish presidential election, difficult times will come for the southern flank of NATO.
Ankara’s demonstrative disloyalty to NATO is not surprising, since Turkey has historically been an independent regional player in the Near and Middle East, and the patterns of the North Atlantic alliance are simply unsuitable for this vector of Turkish state policy and diplomacy.
For Russia, the current trends in Turkey’s policy towards the United States, NATO and the European Union are uniquely beneficial, since Ankara, in solving its most pressing domestic and foreign policy tasks in the region, is simply forced to engage in a constructive and pragmatic dialogue with Moscow, which allows both countries to ensure their national interests in the Near and Middle East.
I proposed to Russia the joint production of the S-500
- quoted by the Turkish Anatolian Agency News the words of the Turkish leader.
The Turkish President explained that Ankara is taking steps to develop its own defense industry.
The West refuses to sell us defense systems. On the proposal to establish joint production, Turkey is also refused
- emphasized Erdogan.
Erdogan’s statement is a direct consequence of the pressure exerted on Turkey by the United States and NATO in connection with the deal to acquire from Russia two S-400 air defense divisions for the Turkish armed forces. The United States and NATO argue that if Russian weapons are bought by the Turks, then Turkey will not receive 5-generation F-35 fighters, the deliveries of which are already partially paid for by Ankara.
It should be noted that the desire of the Turkish leader to play the “Russian card” on the issue of re-equipment of the armed forces is a purely political act, against the background of the upcoming snap elections of the Turkish president, in which the candidature of Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also present.
Statements about the “joint production” of one or another weapon system with one country or another look solid and solid, but in any case we are talking about the production in Turkey of a small number of non-key elements (in Russian terminology - components) of the military system.
For example, some components under the already concluded contract for the supply of S-400 will be produced in Turkey. At the same time, Turkey is a Level 3 partner in the F-35 development and production program, along with Australia, Denmark, Norway and Canada, and also, as long as it is planned, its enterprises will act as subcontractors for the production of some components for this aircraft.
The topic of confrontation with the United States and NATO during the election campaign in Turkey is exaggerated quite actively. Erdogan himself promised to close NATO bases in Turkey, including the Incirlik air base, which is actively used by the US Air Force. Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Janikli called the unacceptable threat to the United States to refuse the supply of F-35 Ankara.
The fulfillment of this condition is unacceptable. The situation can be described by the word blackmail
- The head of the Turkish defense department said to the Anatolian news agency.
And another candidate in the Turkish presidential race, the leader of the Rodina party, Dogu Perincek went even further - he said that Turkey would quit NATO altogether if it won the election.
Although not all political, and the more so that the election promises are being fulfilled, one should still expect that some of the anti-American and anti-NATO ideas voiced by Turkish politicians will still try to realize. So in any case, no matter who wins the Turkish presidential election, difficult times will come for the southern flank of NATO.
Ankara’s demonstrative disloyalty to NATO is not surprising, since Turkey has historically been an independent regional player in the Near and Middle East, and the patterns of the North Atlantic alliance are simply unsuitable for this vector of Turkish state policy and diplomacy.
For Russia, the current trends in Turkey’s policy towards the United States, NATO and the European Union are uniquely beneficial, since Ankara, in solving its most pressing domestic and foreign policy tasks in the region, is simply forced to engage in a constructive and pragmatic dialogue with Moscow, which allows both countries to ensure their national interests in the Near and Middle East.
- Nikolay Kuzyaev
- https://assets.media.az/
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