Turkey’s defense minister told Reuters that Turkey is fully committed to its responsibilities in the face of growing concern among some American allies that Ankara may become turning away from the West.
Turkey wants to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO ), a security, political, and economic club established in 2001 by Russia, China, and Central Asian nations as a counterweight to Western alliances, according to President Tayyip Erdogan last month, adding that there is no justification for it to not be a permanent member.
Turkey’s NATO membership does not preclude it from developing relationships with the SCO, according to Defense Minister Yasar Guler in a written exam.
Our top priorities are fulfilling our obligations to NATO as an important ally and fostering greater friends ‘ unity. Our target should be that Nato is prepared, determined and strong”, he added.
Ankara’s involvement in the BRICS group of nations and its pleasant ties with Russia, especially in power, tourism and defence, have stirred fears among European nations that Turkey’s alliances may become pivoting. But, Ankara has frequently said it remains a determined Nato ally.
Since it was sanctioned by the United States and removed from the F-35 fighter jet project due to its merger of Russian S-400 threats, Ankara has been working to collect 40 Block-70 F-16 fighter planes and 79 reform sets from Washington. The package was approved after Turkey’s grace of Sweden’s Nato charge.
Guler stated that negotiations were en route to the completion of the package, and that the jet consolidation was still in progress.
He said,” We are pleased with the agreement regarding the procurement of the F-16s and modernization, and we hope the project will be finished without a hit until the final jet is delivered.”
Guler said discussions between Ankara and Washington were ongoing when asked whether Turkey wanted to return to the F-35 program.
He continued, noting that there had not yet been any tangible progress, and that Turkey was still interested in purchasing 40 Eurofighter Typhoon warrior planes from Germany, Britain, and Spain.
Normalisation with Syria
Erdogan stated last month that he would meet with Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria, to explore normalizing relationships that Ankara cut after the Syrian civil war. However, according to Assad, talks between the neighbors could only occur if they focused on pressing issues, such as the removal of Turkish forces from Syria’s north.
If necessary conditions are created, Guler said the neighborhood might meet once more at governmental degree as part of Ankara’s provincial charm offensive, which was launched in 2020.
In response to a query about the possibility of a Greek pullout from Syria, he responded,” We are willing to provide all the help we can for a complete law to be accepted, for free elections to be held, and for a complete normalization and security atmosphere to remain created.”
He added that technical work on establishing a joint operations center for military activities was ongoing despite the recent joint efforts by Turkey and Iraq in counter-terrorism.
The outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party ( PKK) militia was in need of securing the Iraqi portion of a planned Development Road Project trade corridor with Iraq, Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE, he added.
