‘NATO radar undermines Turkey neutrality’

The United States has reportedly confirmed for the first time that a controversial NATO radar base, part of a larger missile system, in eastern Turkey has begun operation.

A top US Army commander has declared that American forces are manning the radar system in Turkey’s eastern province of Malatya.

The system has been promoted by US and its European allies as part of a broader NATO “missile defense shield” in Europe that will place Iran and Russia within the range of US missiles.

The US-led missile system has provoked strong criticism from Russia, claiming that the system is not defensive and is aimed at Russian soil.

Press TV has conducted an interview with Michael Maloof, former Pentagon official, to share his opinion on this issue.

The following is a transcript of the interview:

Press TV: Mr.Maloof, first of all what is NATO after for the installation of such base in Turkey? I mean what does it gain from it?

Maloof: Well the gain for NATO would be or they perceive to be as a missile threat from Iran primarily. The other aspect of it is that it can also be used as any missile system against the Russians and also could be turned into an offensive system.

I think that is what the Russians are very, very concerned about and it generally does introduce a new ingredient of instability throughout the region because of that is particularly out of time when countries are trying to get along.

And I think for the Russians specially represents a NATO’s further push eastward and which they believe has gone beyond their role of why they even exist for the first place.

Press TV: Many say that Turkey is somehow playing into the hands of the West by allowing the installation of such a base there?

Maloof: Well I think it was clearly a political decision on Turkey’s part. Turkey does not really have to fear from Iran so much as it needs to somehow maintain a tie with the West and still maintain its pasture in NATO itself.

And it has been trying for years and years to get into the EU and they backed off from that it seems, but clearly Turkey has made a decision I think the politics behind it had to do with Turkey’s role and siding with Washington and [plot] the Saudis ultimately against Syria it is clearly for Turkey to show that it is backing the West in this case.

And of course Turkey makes the caveat that well Israel will not gain access to any of the radar data and I think that is going to be difficult to maintain, not withstanding any assurance that they might use.

Press TV: And cannot anything be done for the base to be scrapped? I mean the people for instance, what can they do?

Maloof: Well people can rise up I guess and protest. I think the Turkish government was very reluctant to get into this and I think it conflicts with their zero policy, zero problem policy as they call it to begin the show side and I think it could have repercussions for Turkey ultimately with respect to its neighbors in the region.

The reasoning behind Turkey’s decision I think again is political and I think they gonna have to weigh whether siding with Washington was really such a good idea.

I do not think it is a very firm policy but the radar system can be moved, there is no question about that, it can be moved elsewhere and I think if the Turkish people are that concerned about it and protested enough, I think the message would get clear, would become clear to Ankara.

AHK/JR

via PressTV – ‘NATO radar undermines Turkey neutrality’.