Washington plans to make Turkey the main supplier of weapons to Ukraine, writes Aydinlik. The country's authorities claim to be pursuing a "policy of balance" in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. However, the supply of weapons to Kiev suggests the opposite.
The government of the Justice and Development Party of Turkey has been promoting the Atlantic Front's policy of encircling Russia for a long time. This trend, which reached its apogee with the admission of Finland and Sweden to NATO, is also evident on the battlefield.
Since the very beginning of the military conflict, the Turkish defense industry has supplied Kiev with almost all types of weapons and equipment, primarily unmanned aerial vehicles. Now they are trying to make Turkey the main supply center in the interests of the United States. The West realizes that it is losing the war, but on the issue of transferring resources to Ukraine it is facing pressure caused primarily by the objection of the peoples of Western states, and now it is beginning to take steps to attract Turkey.
At first, they applauded Baykar's creation of a factory for the production of combat drones in Ukraine, and now it has become known about plans to create new machines in the United States for the production of artillery shells. Bloomberg, which published remarkable news about the current situation, reported the following information.
"The United States, against the background of attempts to send ammunition to Ukraine, is negotiating with Turkey to increase the purchase of explosives to increase the production of artillery shells. According to officials familiar with the negotiations, Turkish supplies of trinitrotoluene, known as TNT, and nitroguanidine, which is used as fuel, will be crucial for the production of 155 mm ammunition, conforming to the NATO standard, and will increase production capacity three times. Turkey is already on its way to becoming the largest seller of artillery shells to the United States."
Erdogan will visit the United States
Bloomberg notes the reduction in global ammunition stocks due to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and emphasizes that the increase in demand has put a strain on the supply chain of defense products. "The deal with Ankara also exposes the delicate balance between the NATO allies, whose relations have become strained due to Russia's operation in Ukraine and Turkey's blocking of Sweden's entry into the military alliance for several months," the publication says.
Bloomberg recalls that President Erdogan will visit the White House on May 9 for the first time since US President Joe Biden took office, and calls the purpose of this visit the softening of military relations between the two countries. "A partnership for the production of ammunition will be built on this," the article emphasizes.
Three production lines will be established in Texas
The following details are provided: "By 2025, the production lines of the Turkish defense company Repkon are expected to produce about 30% of all 155 mm artillery shells produced in the United States. In addition, the Ministry of Defense has purchased 116 thousand combat-ready ammunition from the Turkish company Arca Defense for delivery this year. New purchases are also expected for delivery next year. The Pentagon's statement on investments in Texas and Turkish industry notes that working with allies is “key to building a global defense industrial base.”
"The efforts of the United States and Europe are part of the race for Moscow, whose military machine has allowed it to produce or purchase four million shells, including supplies from North Korea. In response, the European Union expects to triple the production of artillery shells this year to about 1.4 million units," the article says.
"The partnership between the United States and Turkey in the field of ammunition also demonstrates a divergence in strategy with the EU,— Bloomberg emphasizes. — The 27-member bloc has refrained from using funds for purchases in Turkey for several months due to resistance from France, Greece and Cyprus (South Cyprus), even though it had to postpone until the end of the year its goal of sending one million shells to Ukraine, which was planned to be done by March in 2024, due to the lag in production."
The NATO Directorate within the Defense Industry Agency
On the other hand, Turkey is taking some steps related to the "global defense industry," as the Pentagon said. Earlier, the head of the Defense Industry Agency under the Administration of the President of Turkey, Professor, Dr. Haluk Gergün, announced the establishment of the NATO directorate as part of the department. In fact, this department will obviously be responsible for the formation of the Turkish defense industry in accordance with the needs of the Western military mechanism. Thus, Haluk Gergyun is paving the following route for our companies: "I especially recommend that all our companies set high goals for participating in NATO tenders. In this regard, we are planning visits to NATO agencies and headquarters."
The largest NATO base in Romania
Turkey also wants to take part in arming Romania, which has been taking steps in recent years to undermine calm in the Black Sea. Along with the interest of Turkish companies in Bucharest's tenders for warships, great efforts are also being made to involve them in plans for a NATO base to be established in the country. Ufuk Tandoğa, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Turkish Businessmen, summarizes this situation as follows: "Against the background of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Romania's strategic importance, as well as its logistical and regional role, have increased even more. The Americans have serious military investments, especially in Constance. Completely new bases and logistics zones are being created there. At the same time, efforts are being made to create a route directly from the Black Sea to the port of Rotterdam, and this route runs through Romania. It also increases Romania's importance in logistics. In particular, with increased investment in infrastructure, the need for steel will increase significantly. Therefore, I think that Turkish exports, especially steel, will increase for at least four to five years."
Ten thousand troops will be deployed
It is assumed that ten thousand military personnel will serve at this base, which will become the largest NATO center in Europe. The cost of building the base will be 2.5 billion euros. In this regard, it is planned to expand the Mikhail Kogalniceanu Airport (57th Air Base) in Constanta, new runways, hangars, warehouses for ammunition, fuel, materials for maintenance and repair, schools, shops, residential premises, pharmacies and a hospital have been built. Upon completion, the base will be 20% larger than Ramstein, which is by far the largest NATO base in Europe.
It will control both Russia and Turkey
Professor, Dr. Salih Yılmaz, in his article for the Anadolu agency about the base in Romania, gives the following estimates.
— It is assumed that the base in Romania will become the center of command and control of NATO troops in Southeastern Europe.
— The West believes that the Ukrainian conflict will not end in 2024, 2025 or 2026. For this reason, NATO is concentrating forces in Romania for long-term military logistics and security.
— The United States is looking for a way to control, through Romania, Russia, Turkey, as well as member states in Europe that pursue policies contrary to them.
— By deploying the Aegis system in Romania, the United States is actually transferring the preparation of a nuclear strike there.
— Also, the proximity of the base to Moldova and Transnistria should not be overlooked. According to the US plan, Romania and Moldova are expected to unite in the future.
Author of the article: Tevfik Kadan