NAto's missile defense shield: Turkey's western preferences

NAto's missile defense shield: Turkey's western preferences

As a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkey agreed to deploy amissile defense radar system in its southern region of Malatya in 2011. In the context ofgeopolitical developments before and after this pivotal year -namely, Turkey s reorientationtowards the Middle East, the Arab Awakening, and most recently, the Iranian nuclear deal of2013- Turkey s decision had far-reaching regional effects. To offer policy implicationssurrounding this decision, this paper analyzes the interaction between such politicaldevelopments and the existence of this shield system within Turkey s borders. Turkey s decision to allow installation of the NATO defense shield came amid Westernsuspicions of Iran s growing military might, nuclear program, and missile technology. SinceTurkish foreign policy ever since the turn of the 21 st century has shifted increasingly towardsits neighbors in the Middle East, the installation and its hostile reception in Iran seemed out ofsync with its foreign policy shift. Subsequently, examining the Turkish decision in light ofrecent regional developments provides insight about Turkey s increasingly proactive role asnot only a regional, but a global actor.Such examination includes an analysis of Turkey s global environment through a foreignpolicy lens both before and after its decision to host the NATO defense shield. Paired with thetechnical reasons why Iran feels threatened by the missile deployment, such analysis showsthat despite the growing polarity in Turkey s neighborhood, Turkey s NATO membership andnuanced view of international affairs makes it an important mediator moving forward inIranian rapprochement with the West.

___

  • Babacan, M. (2011). Whither An Axis Shift: A Perspective From Turkey's Foreign Trade. Insight Turkey, 129-157.
  • BBC Monitoring European (2012, August 30). Turkish Column Views Regional Implications of NATO's Anti- Missile System. BBC Monitoring European.Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  • Bradner, T., (2009, June 5). Begich, Gates visit Alaska missile defense base. Alaska Journal of Commerce, retrieved October 18, 2013 from http://classic.alaskajournal.com/stories/060509/loc_img2_001.shtml
  • Brain, M. How Patriot Missiles Work. How Stuff Works . Retrieved October 11, 2013 from http://science.howstuffworks.com/patriot -missile1.htm
  • Gladstone, R. (2011, September 02). Turkey to Install U.S. -Designed Radar, in a Move seen as Blunting Iran's Missiles. New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2013 from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/03/world/europe/03missile.html?_r=0
  • Global Security, RIM -161 SM- 3 Upgrades. Global Security ,retrieved August 11, 2013 from http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/sm3-upgrades.htm
  • Gören, N. (2013, October 23). Turkey,’s Air and Missile Defense Journey Continues. Arms Control and Regional Security for The Middle East. Retrieved 15 October, 2013 from http://www.middleeast- armscontrol.com/2013/10/23/turkeys - air- and- missile -defense -journey- continues/
  • Hafezi, P. (2011, September 06). Iran Warns over NATO's Anti- missile Radar in Turkey. Reuters. Retrieved 09 January, 2013 from http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/06/oukwd-uk-iran- turkey-radar- idAFTRE7851IV20110906
  • Hürriyet Daily News (2013, November 26). Turkey to Hike Iran Oil Imports After Nuke Deal. Hürriyet Daily News . Retrieved December 04, 2013 from http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey- to- hike - iran- oil-imports- after-nuke -deal.aspx?pageID=238&nID=58520&NewsCatID=345
  • Idiz, S. (2013 October). Turkey’s Choice: Chinese Missile Defense or NATO? Al-Monitor. Retrieved October 14, 2013 from http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/10/missile - nato- turkey-china-defense.html#
  • International Crisis Group. (2012, March 15). Iran's Nuclear Program, the Risk of War and Lessons from Turkey. International Crisis Group. Retrieved 16 October 2013 from http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/multimedia/~/link.aspx?_id=90F5AC96CAC34D59977338AF17 0B6692
  • Isby, D. C. (2013, November 27) NATO to extend Patriot deployments in Turkey. Retrieved August 26, 2013 from http://www.janes.com/article/30906/nato- to- extend-patriot-deployments- in- turkey
  • Kanat, K. B. (2010). AK Party's Foreign Policy: Is Turkey Turning Away From The West? Insight Turkey, 205-225.
  • Kirişçi, K. (2006, September). Turkey's Foreign Policy in Turbulent Times . Institute for Security Studies Kirişçi, K. (2009). The transformation of Turkish foreign policy: The rise of the trading state. New Perspectives on Turkey, p. 29-57
  • Kutlay, M. (2011). Economy as the ‘Practical Hand' of ‘New Turkish Foreign Policy’: A Political Economy Explanation. Insight Turkey, pp. 67-88.
  • McMichael, W. H., (2009, September 17). Obama Sharply Alters Missile Defense Plans. Retrieved October 14, 2013 from http://www.navytimes.com/article/20090917/NEWS/909170334/Obama- sharply- alters -missile -defense - plans
  • MDAA. AN/SPY- 1 Radar , retrieved November 27, 2013 from http://www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org/web/page/939/sectionid/557/pagelevel/3/interior.aspx
  • Öniş, Z., (2010). Multiple Faces of the “New” Turkish Foreign Policy: Underlying Dynamics and a Critique. GLODEM Working Paper Series (pp. 1 -23)
  • Raytheon. (2011, April 15). Raytheon Completes SM -3 Test Flight Against Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile. Raytheon Company, retrieved November 06, 2013 from http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/sm- 3/press/index.html
  • Shanker, T., (2011, September 15). U.S. Hails Deal With Turkey on Missile Shield. New York Times , retrieved October 19, 2013 from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/16/world/europe/turkey- accepts -missile - radar -for-nato- defense -against -iran.html?_r=0
  • Sözen, A. (2010). A Paradigm Shift in Turkish Foreign Policy: Transition and Challenges. Turkish Studies , pp. 103- 123 The Telegraph. Turkey Backs Nato Missile Defence Shield Against Iran. The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 November, 2013 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/8737158/Turkey- backs -Nato- missile -defence -shield-against -Iran.html
  • Thompson, L. (2011, March 21). Missile Defense Becomes A Navy Mission. Forbes . Turan, K. (2010), Axis Shift in Turkish Foreign Policy. Ortadoğu Analiz , pp. 52-58
  • US Department of Defense (2010, November 15). Agency Financial Report. Retrieved 8 October, 2013 from http://comptroller.defense.gov/cfs/fy2010/01_DoD_Agency-
  • Wide/Fiscal_Year_2010_DoD_Agencywide_Agency%20Financial%20Report.pdf Ünay, S. (2010). Economic Diplomacy for Competitiveness: Globalization and Turkey’s New Foreign Policy. Perceptions , pp. 21 -48
  • Want China Times (2013, October 26). NATO, US Urge Turkey Not To Buy China's HQ-9 Missile System. Want China Times . Retrieved 3November, 2013 from http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news- subclass -cnt.aspx?id=20131026000016&cid=1101
  • Weitz, R.(2013, November 05). Global Insights: Money, Not Realignment, Drives China-Turkey Missile Defense Deal. World Politics Review , retrieved October 22, 2013 from http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/13351/global-insights -money-not -realignment - drives -china- turkey- missile -defense -deal
  • Yeşilyurt, N., & Akdevelioğlu, A. (2009). Turkey’s Middle East Policy under the JDP Rule. The Turkish Yearbook of International Relations , pp. 39-69