GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE (GDP) REVIEW: TURKS NOT

S E C R E T ANKARA 003552

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM A/S BLOOMFIELD, EUR/SE AND EUR/RPM; OSD FOR
DASD HOEHN; EUCOM FOR RADM GOODWIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2014
TAGS: MARR PREL TU
SUBJECT: GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE (GDP) REVIEW: TURKS NOT
LIKELY TO HAVE MORE INFORMED JUDGMENT ON STATIONING OF F16S
BEFORE NATO SUMMIT

REF: ANKARA 3499

Classified By: (U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman. Reasons:
1.5 (B and D).


1. (S) MFA Deputy U/S Baki Ilkin told the Ambassador June 23
that the Turks would not have a more informed view of the
potential request concerning stationing of F-16s in Turkey
before the NATO Summit next week. (Note: MFA U/S Ziyal told
visiting State PM A/S Bloomfield at the close of their June
17 meeting that he would try to provide us such a view before
the Summit, reftel. End note.) Ilkin said there had been
discussions between MFA and the Turkish General Staff (TGS)
following A/S Bloomfield's meetings, but nothing concrete had
materialized thus far. He said there were some things the
Turks likely could support; others they might not be able to
support. Ilkin said MFA and TGS officials would continue to
discuss the potential request involving F-16s, and that the
MFA would advise us once it had a more informed view.


2. (S) TGS/J5 Strategy Branch Chief Col Erdem told deputy
pol-mil counselor earlier June 23 that TGS had spent "a lot
of long hours" on the GDP review following A/S Bloomfield's
visit. He said TGS was "working hard" on the issue and added
that TGS CHOD GEN Ozkok would be a position to have "a very
fruitful discussion with GEN Jones" when the two meet on the
margins of the NATO Summit.
EDELMAN