US and Turkish officials discussed what role Turkey might play in the missile defense network, which would include an overhauled plan Obama unveiled in September, Gates said at a roundtable meeting with traveling US and Turkish press held on Saturday following his talks with Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül and Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ.
“The dialogue on what Turkey could do within NATO to counter the proliferation of ballistic missiles via a missile defense system continues. We have discussed the possibility of erecting two radar systems in Turkey,” Gates was quoted as saying on Saturday.
While in İstanbul, Gates had already said that the system is intended primarily to counter any potential Iranian attack, and that NATO member countries should make it a priority of the alliance, alongside winning the war in Afghanistan.
The US sees Turkey as playing a vital role in the effort because of its close geographical location and cultural ties to the region. Yet, Turkey has so far seemed reluctant to install NATO radar devices in its territory as part of a missile defense system.
Davutoğlu focuses on Iran in Munich talks The German city of Munich, which has been hosting an annual international security conference from Friday until today, was the venue on Saturday for Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s bilateral talks with counterparts from various countries. Most of Davutoğlu’s talks apparently focused on global concerns over the nuclear ambitions of Turkey’s neighbor Iran. He met with the new chief of the UN nuclear agency and reiterated Turkey’s support in resolving the global dispute surrounding Iran’s controversial nuclear program, the Anatolia news agency reported. Davutoğlu informed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Yukiya Amano about his impressions after talks with Iranian officials in Tabriz, which took place in November. Davutoğlu also had talks with US National Security Advisor James Jones and US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, who arrived in Munich from Yerevan, where last week they met with Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan as well as with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who was in Ankara last week; Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan; NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen; Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union; French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner; and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt were among other dignitaries with whom Davutoğlu had bilateral talks in Munich. Ankara Today’s Zaman with wires |
Back in December, in response to a reported US request to install radar in Turkey, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu avoided making any firm statement on the report, noting, however, that NATO should first define the threat. “This is not an issue for NATO now. First, a definition of the threat against NATO members must be made. Then we can consider the issue in this light,” he said at the time, while also rejecting fears that Iran posed any threat to Turkey, saying that Ankara enjoys trust and good relations with all its neighbors.
In Ankara, Gates declined to say whether he’s looking to place naval vessels carrying Aegis radar devices in the Black Sea, a prospect that has prompted concern from Russian officials.
Gates, nonetheless, said he has sought to underscore the threat Iran poses to Turkey and other allies in his discussions with them.
“Iran is the only country in the region that has publicly declared its intent to destroy another country in the region,” he said. If Iran proceeds with this program “unrestrained,” there is a “real danger of proliferation” that would destabilize region, he added.
Turkey has taken steps in the past years to improve its ties with neighboring Iran, stuck in an escalating standoff with the West over its nuclear program. Ankara says it is opposed to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons but also dismisses Western calls for sanctions or military measures against the Islamic regime.
When reminded of criticism that Turkey is shifting is axis from the Western camp, Gates said Turkey was in a unique position geographically and that its efforts in all fields must be received positively.
The ongoing cooperation between Turkey and the US against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has bases in northern Iraq, was on the agenda of his talks in Ankara as well, Gates said, adding that the US is looking at what other capabilities it could provide to Turkey to aid its fight against the PKK.
A couple of years ago, the US began providing Turkey with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
“We have continued that,” and will “see if there are more capabilities we can share with Turkey in terms of taking on this threat,” Gates said, noting that Gen. Ray Odierno, the top US officer in Iraq, discussed an “action plan” on possible further assistance with Turkish officials when he visited Ankara earlier last week.
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