UPDATING ALLIES ON U.S. GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004594 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2014 TAGS: PARM PREL KPAO TU SUBJECT: UPDATING ALLIES ON U.S. GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE REVIEW REF: STATE 174698 Classified By: PolMilCouns Timothy A. Betts for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . (C) PolMilCouns delivered reftel talking points to TGS/J5 Strategy Branch officer CDR Aras on August 13. Aras expressed appreciation for the advance word on the President's speech, agreed that our points tracked with what TGS has heard from USG representatives over the past few months, and said he would pass the points to TGS/J5 LtGen Babaoglu and through him to TGS Deputy Chief Basbug immediately. We also delivered same points to MFA Deputy Director General for the Americas Suna Ilicak on Aug. 16, who thanked us for the advance notice. EDELMAN