Turkey upset with Germany over Typhoon

[ORAC]

Shades of the row over sales to Saudi.

https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/no-explanation-turkiye-lashes-out-at-germany-amid-eurofighter-row

'No explanation': Türkiye lashes out at Germany amid Eurofighter row

Türkiye Monday harshly criticized Germany for not approving Ankara's request to acquire Eurofighter Typhoon jets that the country seeks to refresh its air force amid a prolonged process over the purchase of F-16 warplanes from the U.S.

Türkiye announced last month it was in talks with Britain and Spain to buy 40 Eurofighter jets (https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/turkiye-plans-to-buy-40-eurofighter-typhoon-jets-defense-minister), though Germany has objected to the idea.

The warplanes are produced by a consortium involving Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom.

"We are a NATO member, yet another member opposes us buying these aircraft, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said. "There cannot be an explanation for an ally saying, 'I won't give you the aircraft,'" Güler told an interview with private broadcaster NTV.

He said Eurofighter was a good alternative for Türkiye and expressed optimism that other allies could convince Germany to back down its objections.

Still, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Ankara's interest in military jets was not limited to Eurofighter (https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/turkiye-has-alternatives-if-germany-doesnt-sell-eurofighters).

"We have already given our answer clearly. If they give us these planes, they give them. If not, do we lack doors to knock on? No, we have many," Erdoğa said after his trip to Berlin last month…..

[Spunky Monkey]

Probably because Turkey can't be trusted at the moment, playing both sides of the coin with NATO and Russia.
Turkey needs to start thinking what side they are on, then maybe they may get more assistance and deals.

[Ninthace]

Make it a condition that we sell 1 Typhoon to the Greeks for every one we sell to Turkey?

[wondering]

How about letting Sweden into NATO and Turkey gets the Typhoons? Turkish bazaar for you.

[Tartiflette Fan]

Probably because Turkey can't be trusted at the moment, playing both sides of the coin with NATO and Russia.
Turkey needs to start thinking what side they are on, then maybe they may get more assistance and deals.

I don't think it is just Turkey that has to consider its prospects. Turkey has seldom been a more crucial - and unique - player in so many important areas. If we go back a few years there is the (continuing ) EU agreement (for cash ) to limit refugees which has been broadly fufilled, however the refigee/migrant problem is headline news in all European countries, and if Turkey chose to sit back and let the hordes pass through, then there would be huge political consequences in the EU and GB.: now we have the Ukrainian war with Turkey holding a key-position on the Bosphorous concerning both movement of warships and grain supplies. I would also guess that Incirlik''s strategic position is also weighted much more heavily by the USAF, given all the political/military disturbances within flying distance.

Speaking bluntly ( or pragmatically ) if we sell arms to the Saudis, then we should do the same for the Turks. That only addresses the UK position and not that of Germany, who probably wouldn't have sold to the Saudis, however the German position is not so strong currently , with a unpopular coalition government ( and a dissenting member in the FDP ), significant headwinds in their industry. a major budgetary problem and the embattled joint venture with France to build the successor to Leopard/Leclerc. This venture is currently in stormy waters over major disagreements on design philosophy as well as divvying up the build, and a big dispute on sales-vetoes, where Germany turns down important sales on principle risks lighting one fire too many under the French who are traditionally very mercantillist in their approach to arms sales.

[Ninthace]

If we arm Turkey, are we not endangering Greece, which is also a NATO member?

[Tartiflette Fan]

If we arm Turkey, are we not endangering Greece, which is also a NATO member?

Well, don't just be questioning ..........are we ?

If yes/no, how do you equate that with NATO membershp ?

This also ignores all the other points which are ( I feel ) relevant to the original question.

[Asturias56]

If we arm Turkey, are we not endangering Greece, which is also a NATO member?


That has been a problem for many many years - when two members of the same alliance have a serious mutual issue do the others in the alliance step in or ignore it?

[t43562]

I am no Erdo-an fan - he's like Orban or Putin or (in my case I recognise a "Mugabe" when I see one based on my experience). OTOH Turkey is in a position of danger between east and west really. It's not big enough to be able to ignore Russia or the West. It's subject to interference from both sides. It is quite strong now but it hasn't been so for all that long and has really had to play one side against another to gain any advantage.

Not to put too fine a point on it, the West has not always been very good at helping those well disposed to it (I think of my birthplace of Zimbabwe now where western powers did their best to help their own enemies and even if that doesn't matter possibly South Africa does).

One must use every tool in ones toolbox. Israel uses it's lobby. Turkey uses its position between east and west.

I am married to a Turk so there's my declared interest. I'm just trying to use that position to shed light. To be blunt about it, we in the UK complain about Turkey from a comparatively safer position. You can argue that NATO erases the safety argument but that is only part of the story - there is economic security and the thought that nobody wants NATO's war fought on their soil if possible.