The Deal between Russia and Turkey concerning the S-400 purchase: on the way to a meaningful cooperation or a pretended friendship (original) (raw)
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Turkey between NATO and Russia: The Failed Balance
SWP Comment 2019/C 30, 2019
Turkey’s purchase of a Russian S-400 air defense missile system has raised questions concerning Turkey’s alliance with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the country’s future intentions. Nonetheless, a break with NATO is unlikely, as alliance dependence is still applicable for both Turkey and other members. Turkish government circles have cast the recent purchase as a means to gain more autonomy from and/or better bargaining power with Western allies. However, the purchase of S-400s will not bring about the desired outcomes. Instead, it will generate a dual dependency characterized by vulnerability to Russia and an increased need for assurances from NATO. Turkey also seems to have reached the limits of its bargaining power, as the United States is placing more weight on punitive measures. The only explanation left for the purchase is the possibility that President Tayyip Erdoğan may be seeking a domestic rally effect via a confrontation with the United States to prevent possible challengers to his leadership from gaining momentum.
On Turkey's missile defense strategy: the four faces of the S-400 deal between Turkey and Russia
2019
The S-400 deal signed between Turkey and Russia has sparked an intense debate in the international arena, where harsh criticisms have been leveled against Turkey. This paper explains the reasons behind Turkey’s desire to build an elaborate air defense structure, and discuss how and why its successive attempts to reach this objective in collaboration with the allied countries have failed. It highlights the major arguments behind the severe criticisms in the West concerning Turkey’s negotiations, first with a Chinese firm, and then with a Russian firm, and how this entire process has become a serious bone of contention between Turkey and the U.S., carrying a risk of a spill over into NATO. It also discusses why and how the severe sanctions threatened to be imposed on Turkish defense industries by the Trump administration will indeed damage the security and the defensive capability not only of Turkey, but also the U.S.
In late May and early June 2019, the contract for Turkey's purchase of the Russian-made missile launchers which make up the S-400 long-range anti-aircraft missile system entered the final stage of its implementation. This has been confirmed by unequivocal statements from the Turkish leadership, the fact that the first group of servicemen (system operators) have undergone training in Russia, and the announced arrival in Turkey of the Russian technical personnel responsible for the system's assembly. The first S-400 launchers are likely to be dispatched to Turkey as early as July (around six months sooner than the planned supply date). At the same time the US, which has blocked Turkey's attempts to purchase anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia and China for years, is stepping up its pressure on Turkey; for example, it has announced that the unprecedented sanctions package prepared last year will be imposed if the Russian-Turkish deal is finalised. The crisis around the S-400 is a manifestation of the deep crisis in Turkish-American relations that has been mounting for several years. More broadly speaking, it is an element of the crisis in the relationship between Turkey and the West, and de facto amounts to a major aggravation of the situation. The absence of will to make concessions on both sides makes any compromise between Ankara and Washington unlikely. At stake are the cohesion of NATO, the present and future nature of the US's leading role, and Turkey's place in its relations with the West and Russia. To some degree, all this affects the position of Russia, which itself is interested in undermining the positions of NATO and the US.
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Turkey and the United States of America have long built cooperation in the security and defense sector since the Cold War. Turkey was a strategic region for the USA as a path to stick to the hegemony in the Middle East. The Weakening cooperation between Turkey and the USA happened since the USA was no longer on the same path as Turkey. The coup d’etat that happened in Turkey was also one of the reasons for weakening cooperation between Turkey and the USA. Turkey then built cooperation with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and actively involved in the war against ISIS. The withdrawal of the USA’s Missiles from Turkey’s borders caused Turkey then bought missiles from Russia, which has been so only criticized by NATO and the USA. In the research, the writer analyzed the factor causing the weakening cooperation between Turkey and the USA in the security and defense field. The researcher used Neorealism theory, in which neorealism believed that anarchy in the international syste...
Türk-Nato Savunma İş Birliği'nin Derinliği The Depth of Turkish-Nato Defense Cooperation
Öz Soğuk Savaş döneminde ABD ve Sovyetler Birliği'nin ideolojik bakış açılarının farklılığı sebebiyle dünya iki ayrı kutba ayrılmıştır. ABD ve müttefikleri, Sovyet tehdidini ve komünizmi önlemek ve Batı'da kolektif güvenliği sağlamak amacıyla 1949'da NATO'yu kurmuşlardır. Türkiye 1952 yılında, güvenliğini sağlamak, Sovyet tehdidinden ve komünizm etkisinden korunmak, Batılı kimliğine kavuşmak ve ekonomiyi ve askeri kapasiteyi güçlendirmek gibi dinamiklerin etkisiyle NATO'ya üye olmuştur. 66 yıllık üyelik sürecinde Türkiye, iş birliğinin sağlanması için çaba sarf etmiştir. NATO'nun politikalarını kendi güvenlik ve savunma politikalarına entegre etmiş, sınırları içinde askeri üslerin kurulmasına, personel bulundurulmasına izin vermiştir. NATO müttefikleriyle düzenlenen ortak tatbikatlara ve uluslararası ortamda barışın sağlanması ve sürekliliği için operasyonlara katılmıştır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye'nin NATO'ya üyeliğinden itibaren yaşanan çatışma ve krizler göz önünde bulundurularak iş birliğinin derinliğini tespit etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Nitekim Türkiye-NATO ilişkisinde, çıkar çatışmasının krizlere yol açtığı ve gerçek bir ittifakın olmadığı, çıkarların öncelikli olduğu görülmüştür. Abstract When the world was divided into two blocs, the US and its allies formed NATO in 1949 to prevent the Soviet threat and communism, providing collective security in the West. Turkey has been a NATO member since 1952 to ensure the security, avoid Soviet threat and strengthen economic and military capacity. Turkey made efforts to ensure cooperation for 66 years. It has integrated NATO's policies into its own security and defense policies, allowing the establishment of military bases and facilities and keeping the personnel of NATO within the country. In addition to joint exercises with allies, it has participated in international peacekeeping operations. The aim of this study is to question depth of the relationship and cooperation between the two sides, considering conflicts and crises since Turkey's membership. Indeed, it is seen that there is no real alliance in Turkey-NATO relations, but only self interest.
NATO and Turkey in the Post-Cold War World: between Abondonment and Entrapment
Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 2012
For the last two decades, two fears have largely shaped Turkey’s view of NATO. These are fears of entrapment and abandonment. Both are symptoms of a type of security dilemma that is peculiar to military alliances and coalitions. Both fears had their origins in the Cold War in the context of Turkey’s 60-year-old NATO membership. They also led to the pursuit of autonomy in Turkish foreign policy both as a response strategy and as a strategic choice in its own right. While the former version featured a heavy dose of reliance on military means or hard power, the latter version de-emphasized the military option in foreign policy and relied instead on soft power. A multitude of dynamics accounts for variations in the Turkish approach to NATO for the last two decades: Geography and regional considerations, the transatlantic dynamics, NATO’s restructuring and transformation and Turkey’s domestic dynamics. It may be suggested that NATO membership now looms large in the strategic calculations of the new Turkish elite in the aftermath of the Arab Awakening. This development might be the harbinger of the end of an era marked by fears and the pursuit of autonomy in Turkey’s approach to NATO.
On Turkey Turkey's S400 vs. F35 Conundrum and its Deepening Strategic Partnership with Russia
GMF On Turkey, 2019
The discussion surrounding Turkey’s impending choice with regard to the purchase of different weapons systems—namely the Russian S-400 air defense system and the U.S. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter—is strongly framed in terms of the recent warm relationship between it and Russia as a result of their marriage of convenience in Syria. However, the unfolding strategic convergence between the two countries predates the unique issues raised by the immediate context of the Syrian crisis.
Turkey’s New Missiles of October: Defense Modernization or Political Statement?
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Ankara is giving mixed signals regarding the award of an upcoming missile defense system. Will it be awarded to a defense contractor in a NATO ally country, as has traditionally been the case, or will it be awarded to a Chinese company? The authors argue that some Turkish decision-makers may not fully understand the ramifications of this decision on new and old alliances.
The Missile Defence System and Its Effect on Security Policies of the EU, the US and Turkey
International Relations and Diplomacy , 2014
The concept of smart power requires to combine soft and hard power. Thus, smart power is a new approach for the US politics towards the Middle East. As a consequence of smart power politics of the US, some newly members of the EU and Turkey has become a part of missile defense system. This is a significant indicator of usage of smart power for the EU members and Turkey. The security policies and practices of the US disclose a necessity for straight allies. For this reason, the relationship between the US, the EU and Turkey may be conceptualize with reference to the concept of smart power. In the case of Missile Defense System, Turkey has agreed to be a participant of this system after signing an agreement with the US. After that, Turkish government has confronted with some interior and exterior political difficulties. One of the most important difficulties is the interior resistance of missile defense system's Kürecik Radar Station and its usage in Turkey. Another important point is the question of control of Turkish National Security and Defense strategy. In that respect, the US government's smart power applications may be included in the establishment of the radar station. The EU has also been included in that strategy. This paper will argue smart power practices of the US, the EU and Turkey with reference to comparative practices of power politics and the case of Missile Defense System. In this way, a comprehensive and system-type assessment of possible responses and the change in relations between stakeholder states not only in the issue of a set-up of a Turkish radar station, but on a broader range of international -hard‖ security balance will be demonstrated.