TURKEY/NATO: TURKISH GENERAL STAFF VIEWS ON NATO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001628 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR NATO EUN SUBJECT: TURKEY/NATO: TURKISH GENERAL STAFF VIEWS ON NATO RESPONSE FORCE AND NATO-EU RELATIONS REF: ANKARA 1457 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Turkish Chief of Defense Buyukanit told visiting USAFE Commander Gen Hobbins June 22 that Turkey supports the NATO Response Force (NRF) concept and has earmarked forces for it. However, he claimed, there has been an effort to change the NRF concept from that of a "first-in/first-out" force to that of a NATO strategic reserve. Buyukanit asserted that SACEUR supports this change. Buyukanit said that when he had asked at NATO for the political justification for this, he was quoted Riga Summit language concerning "improving the implementation of the NRF based on the Agreed Concept." Buyukanit said he disagreed with this interpretation of the Agreed Concept and asserted that the CHODs of several other NATO allies had told him that their countries would withdraw their forces from the NRF if it indeed transforms into NATO's strategic reserve. ¶2. (C) In this context, Buyukanit worried about what might happen, for example, if a new conflict arose during the Kosovo transition necessitating deployment of additional forces to Kosovo. In such a case, the NRF would be particularly important in its true capacity as a rapid reaction, rather than reserve, force. Gen Hobbins promised to discuss the issue with SACEUR. ¶3. (C) Continuing with the Kosovo theme, Buyukanit recounted NATO discussions in which he participated in May on NATO-EU relations. He told Gen Hobbins and Ambassador that the Europeans are caving to Cyprus and asserted that EU countries which are also NATO allies are acting more in EU interests than in NATO's (reftel). Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON