The S-400 missile system on display during a military parade in Moscow in 2015. Western officials are uneasy over Russia’s influence in Turkey, a NATO member. Credit Sputnik Photo Agency, via Reuters
New York Times: Turkey Signs Russian Missile Deal, Pivoting From NATO
ISTANBUL — In the clearest sign of his pivot toward Russia and away from NATO and the West, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Tuesday that Turkey had signed a deal to purchase a Russian surface-to-air missile system.
The deal cements a recent rapprochement with Russia, despite differences over the war in Syria, and comes as Turkey’s ties with the United States and European Union have become strained.
It is certain to stir unease in Washington and Brussels, where officials are trying to keep Turkey — a longtime NATO member, and an increasingly unlikely candidate for European Union membership — from entering Russia’s sphere of influence.
The deal comes as relations between Russia and the West are at a particularly low point. Tensions escalated in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and then began fomenting armed revolt in eastern Ukraine. They have grown still worse as evidence has mounted that Moscow was behind the hacking of the 2016 election in the United States and also tried to interfere in other nations’ elections.
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WNU Editor: This is going to raise a lot of eyebrows (and questions) in NATO.
More News On Turkey Signing A Deal With Russia For S-400 Missile Systems
Turkey confirms deposit on Russia’s state-of-the-art S-400 missile systems -- RT
Russia Signs S-400 Missiles Deal With Turkey -- The Moscow Times
Turkey Signs Landmark Russian Weapons Deal -- Military.com/AFP
Turkey signs deal to get Russian S-400 air defence missiles -- BBC News
Turkey Signs Deal To Buy Antiaircraft Missiles From Russia -- RFE
Turkish leader says deposit made on Russian defense system -- Washington Post
Turkey says it has bought Russia's most sophisticated missile-defense system -- Business Insider
5 comments:
"This is going to raise a lot of eyebrows (and questions) in NATO."
I think it's going to raise a lot of eyebrows (and questions) in Russia ;-)
Many pro-Russian English language publications/websites (e.g., Russia Insider and Russia Beyond The Headlines) have been bewildered by the move since it was first tentatively announced. The usual editorial response was tepid at best: 'What? Turkey? Them? Seriously? Well, the government must know what it's doing.' Often, the response was scathing. Tass, Sputnik, and RT were (unsurprisingly) more upbeat about the move.
Personally, I would not like to hand the S-400 to a country whose ruler is a little too unpredictable.
I can see the political angle in Russia's move – and perhaps it's a very astute move, for all I know. It certainly has the effect of splitting Turkey from NATO's air defense C4I structure (command, control, communications, computing and intelligence). Not least because NATO officially warned Turkey that buying Russian or Chinese high-end missile systems would see them being locked-out of NATO's C4I networks.
My nagging doubt is that I can't look beyond Erdogan genuinely being a pretty good fit for the 'mercurial, unpredictable dictator' stereotype that the Western media likes to use in relation to Putin.
Anon,
Good point about Russia.
Selling the S-400 system to a NATO country was not expected. It makes one wonder on what else is in play right now.
There might be a major, major power move going on very soon. The US stations fifty b61 nuclear bombs in turkey. In a small place called Incirlik.
Sounds familiar? That's where the coup against Erdogan started. And Erdogan claims the US was indirectly involved. Now the S400 deployment. Is turkey realigning itself with Russia (non-Nato) and prepares to grab the nukes?
Brexit will pale in comparison to a nato-exit, a Naxit if you will.
Is Turkey setting up a defense against Israeli/Saudi threats with the S-400?
Grab the nukes and make Turkey into Asia Minor again.
Turks are more Greek than Turkish anyway. Turks are only 35% Turkish by blood.
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