The Obama administration’s disclosure of a possible $7.8 billion sale of its most advanced version of the Patriot air-defense missile to Turkey has sparked regional concerns with some warning that the arms package might deteriorate Ankara’s relations with Tehran.
“For Turkey’s part, purchasing the Patriot missiles mean engaging in a conflict with Iran,” said professor Ömer Alpaslan Aksu.
The Pentagon has notified Congress over weekend about it plans to sell the Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile batteries and related gear to Turkey, the only NATO ally bordering Iran. The Pentagon estimated the cost at $7.8 billion, which would be one of the biggest U.S. government-to-government arms sales in years and would mark a return of Turkey as a major U.S. arms buyer.
To read full Hurriyet Daily News story — Go Here Now.
|
