Turkey veto joint NATO exercise because Israeli jet fighters will take part

[Principe Alessandro]

Turkey drops joint drill because of IAF

In another sign of continued tensions between Ankara and Jerusalem, the Turkish military canceled a planned joint exercise with the Israel Air Force scheduled for this week, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

Defense officials told the Post that Turkey informed Israel of the cancellation of the Anatolian Eagle exercise last week, which was to also include US, Italian and NATO forces, saying this was because the planes that Israel was going to send likely bombed Hamas targets during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip earlier this year.

According to reports over the weekend in the Turkish press, Ankara decided last week to cancel international participation in the annual air force exercise, in which Israel has taken part in several times in the past. The reports claimed that the move was aimed specifically at preventing the Israel Air Force from participating, an idea confirmed by the IDF Spokesman's Office on Saturday night.

"The exercise was postponed due to a Turkish decision to change the composition of the participants and not allow the Israel Air Force to participate, a decision we were informed of only several days ago," read a statement from the IDF Spokesman's Office.

On Thursday, the Turkish military issued a statement saying, "Anatolian Eagle Exercise will be executed as planned between October 12-23, [but] multinational participation is postponed."

Israeli defense officials confirmed that the cancellation was connected to tension between Jerusalem and Ankara that was sparked by Operation Cast Lead.

"Ties between the countries are still tense," explained one defense official. "The announcement about the cancellation was sudden and unexpected."

Anatolian Eagle was first held in 2001, with Turkish, Israeli and American participation. The drill lasted almost two weeks and included Israeli F-16s, helicopters and refueling tankers. Israel last participated in the exercise in September 2008, but has not flown in Turkey since Operation Cast Lead, due to the increase in tensions.

Israel's absence from the last Anatolian Eagle exercise in June drew headlines in Turkey. Israeli officials said at the time that the IAF would participate in the upcoming exercise scheduled for October.

Another stupid move by the Turkish government against the NATO alliance.

Out Turkey from EU and even out also from NATO.

We don't need allies like those.

[dogukan]

Turkey drops joint drill because of IAF





Another stupid move by the Turkish government against the NATO alliance.

Out Turkey from EU and even out also from NATO.

We don't need allies like those.

I don't think there is anything extreme here.

Though I'd be glad if Turkey was out of NATO.

[Erik]

Though I'd be glad if Turkey was out of NATO.

I would be glad if my country left NATO too, but I think we should then form a new alliance.

Would you like Turkey to be part of a new European defense pact instead?

[dogukan]

I would be glad if my country left NATO too, but I think we should then form a new alliance.

Would you like Turkey to be part of a new European defense pact instead?

to prevent possible tensions rising and adding more bureaucracy in front of possible conflicts? Yes...

[Principe Alessandro]

I would be glad if my country left NATO too, but I think we should then form a new alliance.

Would you like Turkey to be part of a new European defense pact instead?

You're joking?
With THIS Turkey causing a lot of trouble against the election of Rasmussen as Secretary only for stupid cartooons?

[Erik]

You're joking?
With THIS Turkey causing a lot of trouble against the election of Rasmussen as Secretary only for stupid cartooons?

That's just politics.
I'm really only interested in being part of a military defense pact that nobody dares to attack.

Turkey is valuable because of their strategic location and their military size.
They have also shown to be a loyal NATO ally so far (remember that Iraq and Israel have nothing to do with NATO), and given the large number of Turks living in Western Europe I'm very confident they will remain a loyal ally in any European defense pact.

[Holger Danske]

I would be glad if my country left NATO too, but I think we should then form a new alliance.

Would you like Turkey to be part of a new European defense pact instead?

And what gains would the Netherlands have from such an alliance? One that by all means will be utterly incapable of acting upon anything due to no one having the balls to take leadership and initiative... The Russians surely would love to see this happen.

[B5C]

Turkey leaving NATO would be a bad thing. Loss of defense and revenue from NATO bases. The Turks love the NATO forces. From my time when I lived in Izmir.

[Principe Alessandro]

Turkey leaving NATO would be a bad thing. Loss of defense and revenue from NATO bases. The Turks love the NATO forces. From my time when I lived in Izmir.

Yes but if Turkey leave Israel can join.

And Turkey also denied the airspace in the US war against Iraq and created a lot of trouble about the issue of the NATO Secretary.

[B5C]

Yes but if Turkey leave Israel can join.

And Turkey also denied the airspace in the US war against Iraq and created a lot of trouble about the issue of the NATO Secretary.

Thats because they didn't want to support the Kurds. US' major ally in Iraq was the Kurds.

[dogukan]

Yes but if Turkey leave Israel can join.

And Turkey also denied the airspace in the US war against Iraq and created a lot of trouble about the issue of the NATO Secretary.

Turkey denied invasion from Turkish land....airspace and the NATO bases were still used throughout invasion.

[Cougar109]

Yes but if Turkey leave Israel can join.

Logistically I'd think Turkey would be much more important then Israel. If Turkey is kicked out of NATO unlikely we'd keep our bases and supplies there which really would hurt more then what we would gain from Israel joining.

At the moment keep Turkey in NATO as long as possible, even if it means stepping on Israel's toes on issues such as these.

[Principe Alessandro]

Logistically I'd think Turkey would be much more important then Israel. If Turkey is kicked out of NATO unlikely we'd keep our bases and supplies there which really would hurt more then what we would gain from Israel joining.

At the moment keep Turkey in NATO as long as possible, even if it means stepping on Israel's toes on issues such as these.

But i feel that foreign policy of Turkey changed from the past.

Now is more focused in the Middle East and trying to get more support from Arab countries after the elections of Erdogan and AKP majority in parliament.

I think that aren't no more a reliable partner.

Yes there will be a huge blow in NATO losing a base in Middle East but Iraq right now is enough stable to be a credible alternative.

[dogukan]

But i feel that foreign policy of Turkey changed from the past.

Now is more focused in the Middle East and trying to get more support from Arab countries after the elections of Erdogan and AKP majority in parliament.

I think that aren't no more a reliable partner.

Yes there will be a huge blow in NATO losing a base in Middle East but Iraq right now is enough stable to be a credible alternative.

Yes it has changed...recently Turkey is fixing her relations with everyone around. Armenia, Arab states, Greeks ...everyone.

WOuld you rather have Turkey in bad relations with her neighbours. Just becasue we are in NATO doesN't mean we should keep our negihbours as our "enemies".
It hurts Turkey not you.

[Cougar109]

But i feel that foreign policy of Turkey changed from the past.

Now is more focused in the Middle East and trying to get more support from Arab countries after the elections of Erdogan and AKP majority in parliament.

I think that aren't no more a reliable partner.

I see no reason to really conclude that. They are, at the end of the day, their own nation and must look at what would benefit themselves the most. Having support from the Arab nations wouldn't exactly be a bad thing considering their position. Despite our association with the Kurd's Turkey still aided us with Iraq, allowing us the use of NATO bases and Turkish air space which is all we really needed in the first place.

Like I said, I see no real reason to assume Turkey is no longer a reliable partner for NATO.

Yes there will be a huge blow in NATO losing a base in Middle East but Iraq right now is enough stable to be a credible alternative.

I don't. Iraq is still undergoing a very heavy transition and there are still military and civilian causalities on a regular basis. The future of Iraq isn't set down under lock and key either, there still remains a chance that nation collapses back to where it was. Right now I'm not willing to exchange Turkey with hopes of Iraq for out presence in the middle east, to much of a gamble.

[Erik]

Yes but if Turkey leave Israel can join.

You are joking, right?

None of the existing members, except for America, would ever want that.
Because then if Israel gets attacked, they will be forced to come to their aid.

And Turkey also denied the airspace in the US war against Iraq and created a lot of trouble about the issue of the NATO Secretary.

They were against an illegal war right on their border, which they knew would cause troubles in their own country as well.

You think America would let France use their airspace to invade Mexico in a war they don't support themselves?

[Ishoss]

I'd much rather have Turkey (well, keep) than have Israel. Turkey has a lot of soldiers and is less likely to become involved in a defensive war, thus dragging NATO into it. They're too antagonizing for their neighbours, basically.

[jankren]

Turkey leaving NATO would be a bad thing. Loss of defense and revenue from NATO bases. The Turks love the NATO forces. From my time when I lived in Izmir.

You are Turkish?

No this is hypocrisy while they're bombing Kurds with the same Israeli excuse of terrorism.

And no Kurds threat to delete Turkey from the geographic maps.

One of the stupidest thing is to compare Kurdish issue with Palestinian issue.

Turkey want the Kurds to be parts of Turkey, while Israel dont want the Palestinians.

[Principe Alessandro]

One of the stupidest thing is to compare Kurdish issue with Palestinian issue.

Turkey want the Kurds to be parts of Turkey, while Israel dont want the Palestinians.

The problem isn't the issue but the bombing according to Turkish officials.

[Carach]

Turkey drops joint drill because of IAF





Another stupid move by the Turkish government against the NATO alliance.

u wouldnt happen to be bias at all would u?

having said that i have to agree (to an extent) with u - turkey and israel have enjoyed reasonably good relations (as good as muslim/jew relations can get eh..) and pretty close military ties too (turkey giving the israeli defence industry quite a lot of work) so it rather perplexes me that they are so set on ruining a decent relationship.

Despite the tension in relations however this is no basis for having Turkey out of NATO or potential recruitment into the EU. We also dont (well, i dont, many states probably dont also) want Israel and all the baggage she brings in tow, to NATO.