US-Turkey Relations and the Russian Missile Defense System
By Qaisar Abbas
Washington, DC
Relations between Tukey and the US have been deteriorating for some time, but the conflict and its related perspectives came to the open in a panel discussion “US, Turkey, NATO and the Changing World” held at the National Press Club in Washington DC last week.
Among other bilateral issues between the two countries, the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander retired US General Wesley Clark and President of Altinbas University in Turkey; Professor CagriErhan mostly discussed Turkey’s on-going deal to purchase the S 400 defense missile system from Russia.
Professor Erhan, elaborating on the historical background of the issue, said Turkey and the United States had friendly relations for centuries, and Turkey first showed interest to buy the Patriot defense system but the US never considered it, and as a result, his country had to consider purchasing the S 400 system from Russia.
The deal to buy the Russian system, he continued, is aimed at defending Turkey in case of a missile attack and was never thought to be against the security of NATO as Turkey is an active member of the organization.
General Clark, on the other hand, claimed that buying the system from Russia is like purchasing weapons from a country which is working against your national interests. He further explained that the United States and Turkey have been on good terms and we have always supported the inclusion of Turkey in the European Union, but unfortunately the Union has opposed it.
Turkey has proposed to form a bilateral commission on the missile defense system, and President Trump and President Erdogan also plan to deliberate the issue at the G20 meeting next month.
The panel was held against the backdrop of increasing differences between the two countries where Turkey has been recently seen moving away from the United States and aligning with Russia and China. Turkey also considers the current American policies in Syria against its national interests.
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