Iran and Turkey have forged strategic security partnership

[ErnstBlofeld]

GeoStrategy Direct:

 

Iran and Turkey have become allies in the area of security, a report said.

The Transatlantic Academy said that Ankara and Teheran have become partners in such areas as counter-insurgency and nuclear cooperation.

 

The Washington-based institute said a key source of mutual concern has been the threat from the Kurdish Workers Party and its regional branches.

 

"Above all, Turkey and Iran have become security partners," the report, titled "Getting To Zero: Turkey, its Neighbors and the West," said. "The Kurdish question now represents an area of convergent interests between the two."

 

The institute said Turkey's security partnership with Iran has not been threatened by Teheran's nuclear program. The report said Ankara does not share the concern of the rest of NATO as to the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapons arsenal.

 

On June 9, Turkey became the only NATO member to oppose United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran. Ankara was also said to have become a major energy ally of Teheran, particularly in the area of natural gas.

 

"Improved Turkish-Iranian relations can elucidate Turkey's position regarding Iran's nuclear potential," the report, released on June 3, said.

 

"Turkey does not feel as threatened as its Western partners by Iran's nuclear program, in the same way that it does not feel imperiled by Israel's nuclear arsenal."

 

The report said Turkey has also become security partners with Iran's leading ally, Syria.

 

Transatlantic said Ankara and Damascus have launched strategic cooperation while Turkey reduced its relations with Israel "from active cooperation to a decidedly cooler, arm's-length affiliation."

 

"There have been sharp Turkish condemnations of Israel, and successive diplomatic crises in 2009-10," the report said. "Turkish [and Israeli] diplomacy has scrambled to avoid further deterioration, and it is worth noting that neither has downgraded formal diplomatic relations, as Turkey had in the past. Nonetheless, the Turkish-Israeli relationship, in stark contrast to the unbreakable alliance of the 1990s, has become troubled and volatile."

 

 

[ErnstBlofeld]

Throw out Turkey from NATO and let in Israel as a member.

[Argyle58]

Throw out Turkey from NATO and let in Israel as a member.

 

I'm all for kicking Turkey out, but to induct Israel in it's place would spark a regional war.

[ErnstBlofeld]

Throw out Turkey from NATO and let in Israel as a member.

 

I'm all for kicking Turkey out, but to induct Israel in it's place would spark a regional war.

 

Israel is the perfect member. They have air bases and equipment ready for the U.S. Air Force. They have bunkers we can store our B-61 bombs. We probably will not have to pay rental "tribute" for the bases. As I remember, the USAF for years based at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia and it did not cause a war. We help build that base the Saudis kicked us out and we had to move all of our operations to Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar.