How Turkey re-emerged as the West’s ‘indispensable’ defence partner

After years of strained relations and embargoes, Turkey

is poised to become an “indispensable” defence partner for Europe, as Germany

lifts its veto on advanced jet sales and the United States

seeks to end a damaging arms dispute.

Germany last week dropped its veto on the sale of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey, a fellow Nato

member, while the US is pushing to resolve its long-running dispute with Ankara over a 2019 purchase

of Russian S-400 missile systems.

American diplomats say an agreement could be reached by year’s end, potentially clearing the way for the sale of 40 new F-16 Block 70 fighters to Turkey and upgrades for much of its existing fleet.

Such a breakthrough would also allow Turkey to rejoin the club of close US allies allowed to buy advanced F-35 stealth warplanes, US ambassador to Ankara, Thomas Barrack, indicated late last month.

The West’s willingness to resume high-level arms sales to Turkey marked “a shift in the global security situation,” said Bill Park, senior lecturer in defence studies at King’s College London.