Turkey, China cooperation on ballistic missiles not new
Turkish defense industry insiders are dismayed with US pressure on Turkey for it reaching a deal with China, as this is not the first time they have cooperated.
The United States is ramping up the pressure on Turkey to give up on its decision to go ahead with the deal it reached with China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC) to acquire a long-range anti-missile system. What troubles the United States with this deal is not only that this Chinese firm is subject to US sanctions but also — in the words of a US defense industry insider speaking to Al-Monitor — “China has actually figured out how to penetrate the NATO arms market, and this is an unprecedented coup that has woken up a lot of people.”
In the 2014 military spending bill, the US Congress has taken up the task to make this purchase for Turkey undesirable. If the bill passes as proposed, it will ban the use of US money to integrate Chinese missile defense systems with US or NATO systems, meaning Turkey would be forced to spend a whole lot more to benefit from this system in any meaningful way — it will not mean a thing without it being incorporated with the remaining essential parts of an operational system.
Merrill Lynch also announced its withdrawal last week from bidding to underwrite Turkish defense contractor Aselsan’s second public offering, which can only be interpreted as yet another signal by the United States to Turkey not to go ahead with this deal.
Defense Industry Undersecretary Murad Bayar said on Dec. 6, however, “What we propose to other companies that show up as the second or third best alternative is to keep their offers updated at all times. While it will not be accurate to say that the time of competition and bidding continues, it is fair to say that if we can’t get the result we wish for from our first pick, we will be interested in your proposals.”
