Türkiye, waiting for the decision of the US Congress for F-16 fighters
| Senator Rand Paul indicated that the Armenian lobby can still cause problems, at least temporarily, in the process of arms sales to Turkey. |
US Senator Rand Paul, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has proposed a bill that rejects the proposed foreign military sale of some defense items and services to the Turkish government. He had previously opposed the sale of American weapons to Egypt. newsmedia.tasnimnews.com/Tasnim/Uploaded/Image/1402/11/20/1402112010471025829353044.jpg”/>
Turkey’s defense purchase order includes:
32 F-16 C Block 70
8 F-16 D Block 70
Wide range of related equipment and ammunition and upgrade fighter kits Old Turkish Air Force.
The above items are worth a total of 23 billion dollars.
The last deadline for the US Congress to object to the contract is until February 10. With this in mind, the next day or two is an important period for Ankara-Washington relations. But the current evidence shows that Erdogan will achieve his wish and will use this deal as an important political achievement in the upcoming elections.
Despite the fact that the path to sell fighter jets to Turkey has been paved, Senator Rand Paul, one of the Kentucky Republican political figures, has a text in the hands of the Senate which contains his and several other senators’ firm opposition to the sale of airplanes to Erdogan’s government.
Senator Rand Paul showed that the Armenian lobby can still, at least temporarily, become a problem in the process of selling weapons to Turkey. Of course, Rand Paul has a long and long way to go to get the approval of the majority of the members of the Senate and representatives and to dissuade Congress from doing this deal, but in any case, the Turkish Ministry of Defense is currently worried and is following the situation closely.
Turkey is said to have spent tens of millions in the last 3 years to finalize this deal. Dollar paid lobbying companies and sent several political, defense and economic delegations to Washington.
Senator Paul mentioned in his text that Turkey during the war between Azerbaijan Armenia has provided some of its fighter planes to Aliyev’s government, and this action is contrary to the accepted principles for the sale of strategic weapons.
The importance of Turkey’s weapons self-sufficiency
Erdogan government officials, in the media close to the Justice and Development Party, have launched a wide propaganda wave to show This country has become a great power in the field of arms production and export.
Widespread propaganda about the impact of the sale of unmanned aerial vehicles to various countries is one of the important headlines in Erdogan’s speeches to indicate Turkey’s hard power. Erdogan says, Turkey’s growth in the defense industry is manifested by conquering new markets and increasing arms exports.
It is said that more than 185 countries bought military equipment from Turkey in 2023 and The products of Turkish defense companies have found customers especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This situation is considered an important step towards achieving Turkey’s goals of technological innovation in the defense industry and reducing dependence on foreign countries.
The West, Turkey and the S400 experience
One of the important challenges and differences between Turkey and NATO leaders is the issue of dangerous conflict and the incompatibility of NATO weapons with Russian defense systems.
First, it does not allow Turkey to be a part of a wide defense-offensive network and to cooperate with other NATO members.
Second, this system is basically designed to neutralize NATO attacks and when a member NATO buys such weapons, it actually increases Russia’s combat power!
It is Turkey. Harming Turkey’s strategic independence is expressed, and Ankara should buy whatever weapon it wants and not pay attention to what others say. How is the conflict formed?
He criticized former US President Barack Obama’s defense policies and said: You did not sell the Patriot system to Turkey and forced this country to buy weapons from our enemy, Russia. If Turkey could easily buy Patriot, these problems would not have arisen.”
Although Trump’s words were sweet to Erdogan and his team, none of the members The American Congress refused to accept the validity of such a position. Because from their point of view, selling the advanced Patriot defense system to a pragmatic politician like Erdogan is a big risk.
S400 can prevent repeating the experience. This means that NATO now understands that if Turkey is not given the F-16, it will most likely buy the Russian Sukhoi and this will be the beginning of new challenges and problems between Turkey and NATO. As a result, the evidence shows that NATO leaders agree with the sale of F-16 to Turkey.
Besides expressing tacit consent to sell F-16 to Turkey, Europeans also want to sell Phantom to Turkey. That is, the phantom made by Germany, England, Spain and Italy. Earlier, it was announced that Germany does not agree with such a move. But now, a German think tank has been found that defends this idea and has an interesting argument to justify this deal.
Sales European phantom to Turkey, gives more power to the West
The analysis carried out by the German Foundation for Science and Politics (SWP) confirms the importance of the fact that the West intends to use Turkey as a geopolitically important country close to Russia and adjacent to the Black Sea, in the front against Keep Russia.
deepen the integration process of this country with the West and create new cooperation opportunities. For this reason, Turkey’s request to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon warplanes has been evaluated as an important development that can mark a new chapter in the relations between Europe and the West.
According to the analysis of the German Foundation for Science and Policy (SWP), sending the Eurofighter to Turkey is more than just an arms deal. Because it enables this country to integrate with the military-industrial systems of the West.
This merger is an opportunity to balance Turkey’s steps towards strategic independence and Relations with NATO are considered. Another important point that has been emphasized is the consequence of diversifying Turkey’s defense policies.
Consider China and Pakistan as an alternative. To put it more clearly, the Germans also say that the West should sell weapons to Turkey in order to become more dependent on the West, not to go towards Russia and others, and not to think much about defense independence.
Another important argument of politicians and senators in favor of arms sales to Turkey is that America has recently decided to sell F-35 fighter jets to Greece. As a result, Turkish generals and defense experts say, the condition of reason and logic is that in order to maintain the balance of the defense power of two NATO neighbors, Turkey and Greece, if one of them is given advanced weapons, the other will also be given weapons. be given so that he can maintain his power level and not be in a weak position.
Finally, think tanks and political and defense think tanks of Western countries have different views on the sale of advanced weapons to Turkey. But apparently, in the current situation, most countries agree that modern weapons should be provided to Turkey so that this country remains in the NATO coordinated defense network.
| Publisher | Tasnim News |
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