Turkey is balancing its NATO obligations while securing the future of its energy through reconciliation with Russia, said John McLaughlin, former acting director and former deputy director of the U.S.' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Monday.
McLaughlin told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview that Turkey is doing what it needs to do right now by engaging Daesh more vigorously than previously in Syria.
At the end of August, Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield, aimed at improving security, supporting coalition forces and eliminating the terror threat along Turkey’s border through Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters backed by Turkish armor, artillery and jets.
The operation is in line with the country’s right to self-defense. This right was borne out of international treaties and a mandate given to the Armed Forces by the Turkish parliament in 2014 and extended for another year in September 2015. Operations by the Turkish army, which have been actively fighting Daesh, have significantly contributed to ongoing efforts of the U.S.-backed international coalition against the terror group.
The Free Syrian Army recently took control of Jarabulus, where one FSA member was killed. The Turkish army sustained no casualties.
To this end, McLaughlin said that Turkey is working towards having a more secure border with its neighbors in the south and is also engaged in helping secure its future in energy.
He explained that Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan are the three countries that are important in Turkey's energy mix.
"You are closely developing your relations with Russia after the jet crisis. That's a positive thing for Turkey which is also a NATO member, so it bears the burden of having to also represent NATO's position on issues," he said.
Turkey has been a NATO member since 1952.
After the Fetullah Terrorist Organization's (FETO) failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, there were speculative media reports, alleging that Turkey's membership would be dismissed by NATO.
However, the alliance said on August 10 that Turkey's NATO membership is not in question.
"Turkey is a valued ally, making substantial contributions to NATO's joint efforts. NATO counts on the continued contributions of Turkey and Turkey can count on the solidarity and support of NATO," the statement of NATO read.
He argued that although Turkey is a NATO member, it does not mean that it cannot have productive relations with Russia, just as the U.S. does. He said that even though the U.S. has strong differences with Russia over its policy in Ukraine, nonetheless the U.S. is obliged to work with Russia if there is a settlement on the Syrian problem. And it has seen benefits with Russia's help in arriving at the nuclear agreement with Iran.
Following two years of nuclear negotiations, Iran reached a comprehensive nuclear deal with the world's P5+1 powers; U.K., China, France, Russia, the U.S. and Germany in Vienna on July 14, 2015.
He highlighted the deeply developed trading relationship between Turkey and Russia and recognized that "Russia is a major energy supplier which is an important component for Turkey."
Turkey imports its gas mainly from three countries, Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan. Turkey imported 48.42 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in 2015, 26.78 bcm more than 2014, 50 percent of which came from Russia.
The country imported 7.83 bcm of gas from Iran and 6.17 bcm from Azerbaijan while the remaining 7.64 bcm was imported as LNG from various sources.
McLaughlin acknowledged that relations with all major countries are complicated these days.
"I assume Turkey and Iran's relations are reasonably good. Also, Azerbaijan is in a part of the world that is heavily Turkic and it is also a Muslim country. So, I think Azerbaijan and Turkey fit well together," he explained.
Trade between Turkey and Azerbaijan currently stands at around $13 billion a year and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in March that he wanted to see it rise to $20 billion by 2021.
The Turkish president also indicated that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars rail project, which will directly link Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, is top priority for all concerned. The line is due to be opened in December.
(Anadolu Agency)
