PS -Queue up Egypt:Turkey has joined ‘radical axis’ with Iran, Syria, Hizbullah

Gertz:

The Israeli intelligence community has determined that Turkey, under Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, has formed strategic alliances with both Iran and Syria.

Officials said Ankara, particularly its intelligence and security agencies, were helping Iran and Syria in such areas as intelligence-sharing, the battle against Kurdish insurgents and combat doctrine.

“Turkey has joined a radical axis that consists of Iran, Hamas, Hizbullah and Syria,” a senior intelligence official said.

The official said the Turkish contribution to the so-called axis began with diplomatic support for the regimes in Damascus, Gaza City and Teheran. But he said Turkey has been providing support for Iranian operations meant to help arm Hizbullah and Syria in plans for a war against Israel.

“There are Iranian shipments that move overland through remote areas of Turkey to Syria,” the official said. “This is coordinated with Turkish intelligence and the United States knows about this.”

On Jan. 25, Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Ankara was cooperating with Hamas, Hizbullah, Iran and Syria. Kochavi said the cooperation marked the transformation of the Middle East into a hotbed of Islamic extremism.

“The Middle East is heading toward extreme Islamization and exhibiting less of a desire to reach agreements,” Kochavi said.

The intelligence assessment did not envision Turkey reducing its strategic ties to Iran and Syria or their proxies. The official said Turkey has sought to become a bridge between Teheran and the West while benefiting from Iranian energy.

Turkey is also seeking investment from it wealth neighbors to develop advanced military systems.

Bahrain and Turkey have agreed to bolster military cooperation, for example, but not in the usual format.

Instead, officials envisioned a partnership between Turkish defense companies and Bahraini capital. One option was that Bahrain serve as an investment house and marketing center for Turkish combat platforms, weapons and military equipment. In 2010, bilateral trade reached $244 million.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (R) meets with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan on Feb. 6 in Aleppo, some 350 kms north of Damascus. AFP/SANA

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“The state encourages the private sector to boost domestic investments and ensure greater participation in national economic growth,” Salman said.

Officials said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan was seeking billions of dollars in foreign investment amid projects to develop a fighter-jet, submarine, frigate, main battle tanks and unmanned aerial vehicles. They said this could have a topic during a meeting between the Bahraini crown prince and Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul.

Officials said the two countries pledged to expand defense and military cooperation over the next two years. They said the cooperation could include Turkish military exports to the Gulf Cooperation Council kingdom.

“There are a range of options in which Turkey and Bahrain could become partners in the development and marketing of advanced defense technology,” an official said.

The prospect of expanded military cooperation was discussed during the visit by Bahraini Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa to Turkey. Salman, who is also Bahrain’s deputy military commander, met Turkish President Abdullah Gul and senior military officers.

During his two-day visit, which ended on Feb. 10, Salman toured Turkish defense industries. The Bahraini crown prince expressed admiration for Turkish weapons and military equipment but did not commit himself to procurement.

“Turkey is the most important and largest country, and its economy is important for us regarding the Gulf Cooperation Council,” Salman said.

Meanwhile, Turkey has been searching for a foreign partner for the development and production of a fighter-jet.

Officials said Turkey’s Defense Industry Undersecretariat, or SSM, has begun to draft guidelines for the launch of its FX project, meant to begin serial production of an indigenous combat aircraft by 2020. They said a key condition was that Turkey retain a majority stake in any fighter-jet project.

“We are insisting that we have full control of the project even if our foreign partner would have access to all technology,” an official said.

In December, Turkey launched the fighter-jet project, estimated at costing at least $4 billion. Gonul said Ankara was negotiating with South Korea to enter its aircraft project.

But after several months of talks, the Turkish government has concluded that South Korea was not a suitable partner. Officials said Seoul insisted that Turkey be granted a minority stake in the fighter-jet project, which would focus on air-to-air missions.

As a result, SSM has been discussing the prospect of a partnership with European and other firms. Officials cited Brazil’s Embraer and Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica, both of them leading aerospace companies that have not produced fighter-jets.

The most likely partner, officials said, was Alenia, a leading defense contractor in Turkey. Alenia has been working on the coproduction of up to 91 attack helicopters for the Turkish military.

Alenia has been selected as the marketing partner of the Eurofighter consortium. So far, Turkey, a partner in the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter program, has rejected procurement of the Eurofighter Typhoon.

So far, SSM has allocated $20 million to the state-owned Turkish Aerospace Industries to draft the conceptual design of FX. Officials said TAI, expected to be the eventual prime contractor, would require two years to complete the task.

Officials said SSM has also authorized TAI to find a foreign partner for the fighter-jet project. They said an agreement could be signed with a foreign contractor by 2013.

FX was meant to result in an advanced fourth-generation aircraft that could rival the U.S.-origin F-16 and Eurofighter. Officials said the FX would replace the aging F-4 fighter-jet fleet acquired in the 1970s.

And what are we prepared to do?

What are our plans?

How are we going to safeguard American interests?

THAT IS NATO