Turkey 'to reduce' economic and defence ties with Israel

Turkey will reduce economic and defence ties with Israel, but bilateral cooperation will not be entirely frozen after the Gaza ship raid, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc has said.

4 June 2010, 12:00am
by Karl Stagno-Navarra

2 min read

Ankara "will reduce relations in these fields to a minimum level, taking into account whether (cooperation) already exists... whether payments have been made or not," Arinc said on NTV television.

"But as a state we cannot completely ignore a state whose existence we recognise," he said. Relations between Turkey and Israel, once close allies, have been plunged into crisis by an Israeli commando raid on a flotilla carrying aid to the Gaza Strip.

Nine Turks, including one who also held US citizenship, on the lead vessel were killed.

Ankara recalled its ambassador from Israel and scrapped plans for three joint military exercises.

Arinc explained that Turkish officials had determined that "there are not many agreements between the two states in the economic field" and that most of the existing cooperation was between companies.

Military and defence industry cooperation was the driving force behind the Turkish-Israeli alliance, sealed in 1996 with the signing of a military cooperation accord.

Israeli companies have been among the main recepients of lucrative tenders to equip the Turkish army.

One project, worth US$183 million, involves the manufacture of 10 unmanned aircraft and related surveillance equipment for the Turkish army in a joint venture led by Israel Aerospace Industries.

Speaking after the raid on the aid ships, Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul said the crisis would not hamper the completion of the project.

Israel is expected to deliver the remaining four drones in June or July, he said.

The project, launched in 2005, has been delayed amid technical snags and political tensions, which have built up since Israel's devastating war on Gaza last year.

In previous years, Israeli companies have modernised about 100 Turkish F-4 and F-5 fighter jets in a deal worth some 700 million dollars, and sold Turkey rockets and electronic equipment.

In 2002, Israeli Military Industries won a US$668 million to upgrade 170 M60 tanks, the delivery of which was completed in April.