Τουρκία: Η επίσημη αγαπημένη των ΗΠΑ

 Άλλο ένα έγγραφο που δείχνει την αγαστή συνεργασία Τουρκίας - Αμερικής σε στρατιωτικό,

και διπλωματικό επίπεδο.

Τώρα αν νομίζετε ότι εμείς είμαστε σύμμαχοι της Αμερικής όπως οι Τούρκοι,

καλύτερα να διαβάσετε το παρακάτω.

Μέχρι και σύστημα αεράμυνας σχεδιάζουν για 'προστασία' των ευρωπαίων εταίρων

S E C R E T ANKARA 000251 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2020 
TAGS: PARM PREL PTER TU
SUBJECT: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE GATES'S MEETINGS WITH TURKISH 
MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AND CHIEF OF THE TURKISH 
GENERAL STAFF, FEBRUARY 6, 2010 
 
1. Classified By: Ambassador James F. Jeffrey for reason 1.4 (b, d)

S/NF) Summary:  Secretary of Defense Robert Gates 
(SecDef) met with Turkish Minister of National Defense Mehmet 
Vecdi Gonul (MND Gonul) and the Chief of the Turkish Genral 
Staff General Ilker Basbug (Gen Basbug) in separate meetings 
during his bilateral visit to Ankara on February 6, 2010. 
SecDef thanked Gonul and Basbug for Turkey's valuable 
contributions in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Gonul stressed 
Turkey's important role in Afghanistan as a Muslim country in 
the Alliance and Basbug hailed continuing U.S. and Turkish 
support to Afghan National Security Force training and 
assistance to the Pakistani Armed Forces.  SecDef and Gonul 
discussed the importance of a Turkish role in European 
Missile Defense.  On combating the PKK in Turkey, SecDef 
agreed with Basbug that the key to further progress is 
greater Iraqi cooperation with Turkey. SecDef highlighted to 
Gonul opportunities to increase military capability and gain 
economic benefits through choosing Sikorsky helicopters or 
Raytheon Patriot PAC-3 systems in ongoing tenders.

 15. (S/NF) Turning to Iran, Gonul cited the enrichment 
program and acknowledged that Ankara is "concerned about the 
Iranian threat," but said that the international community 
does not yet have evidence that there is a weapons program. 
Gonul said that even though Turkey does not expect an attack 
from Iran, the threat from Iran to Turkey's European allies 
would make an air defense capability important. (Comment: His 
acknowledgement of an Iranian threat to Europe diverges from 
previous Turkish statements underplaying such a threat.)  He 
repeated that the system would be designed to defend all of 
Europe, and not solely Turkey.