Sacked By The US From The F-35 Program, Turkey Docked On The Russian-Chinese Axis

Sacked by the US from the F-35 Program, Turkey docked on the Russian-Chinese Axis Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) talks with Russian President Vladimir Vladimorvich Putin. Photo / REUTERS / Damir Sagolj / Photo File

WW3 - Israeli observers watched Turkish signs moving closer to the Russia-China axis after the United States (US) ejected Ankara from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program. This step by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government is believed to have significant implications for NATO, Israel and the Middle East.

Washington in July officially ended Turkey's participation in the most expensive stealth jet fighter program after Ankara ignored American warnings and was determined to acquire Russia's S-400 missile system. Turkey should have received its first two F-35 fighter jets a few months ago, but the transfer was canceled by the Americans.

The Pentagon said Turkey's ownership of the S-400 missile system was not compatible with US fifth generation jet fighters. NATO officials have also expressed real concern that the presence of a sophisticated Russian-made missile system will allow Moscow to obtain sensitive intelligence from the jet fighter that will endanger it.

As a result, Turkey was told that the country had to make a choice, namely choosing to get an F-35 fighter jet and or S-400 missile system. President Erdogan chose the latter.

"This development ultimately increases the chances of Turkey, which is a member of NATO, embarking on a route that will bring it to a change in sides," Ofer Israel, an expert in foreign policy and decision making at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center, told JNS. 8/2019).

"Turkey is more likely to surrender (survive) to the Western bloc and join the Eastern axis that is currently developing between Russia and Chinese forces," said Ofer who also teaches at Ashkelon Academic College in southern Israel.

He considered, NATO now had no choice but to recalculate its route regarding Turkey's status, and Turkey's future in the alliance.

That choice, said Ofer, also meant re-examining the policy of placing Western military assets in Turkey. He highlighted the potential threat posed by the deployment of American tactical nuclear weapons in Turkish territory. He noted that in a crisis situation, the assets of nuclear weapons could be a bargaining chip in the hands of the Ankara regime.

According to him, Israel must also reassess the geopolitical situation that Turkey's departure from the Western bloc will be temporary. "He (Turkey) will improve his way and return to his traditional path, receiving a painful blow," said Ofer.

"For the first time, a regional country that is very critical of Israel will have a sophisticated S-400 system, which can damage the operational capabilities of the Israeli Defense Force and Air Force," he warned.

Separately, he continued, Israel must take advantage of the opportunities created by Turkey's departure from the F-35 program. "And increasing his own involvement in this resource-rich developed project. This includes expanding the participation of the Israeli defense industry," Ofer added.

Just to note, Israeli defense company Elbit Systems together with US company Rockwell Collins manufactures F-35 fighter jet screens mounted on helmets. While Israel Aerospace Industries manufactures sophisticated aircraft wings.

In May 2018, Israeli F-35 jets became the first aircraft of their kind to attack enemy targets in combat operations.

Ofer said, despite Turkey's reorientation towards the East axis, Jerusalem should not disappoint applecart with respect to Ankara. "And must preserve the possibility of returning relations to their previous country from a strong military alliance, either because of a policy change by current Turkish President Erdogan or one of his successor in the future, "he explained.

Meanwhile, Russia is predicted to sell more military hardware to Turkey, where Moscow recently offered to sell Su-35 fighter jets.

At the same time, the United States has not stopped being involved with Turkey at all. On Wednesday, the two countries reached an agreement to create a "safe zone" in northeast Syria to guard Kurdish-Syrian forces from the Turkish border. The agreement could prevent a new Turkish invasion of Syrian territory to fight Kurdish forces. The two countries said that they would manage a joint operations center, although little details of the agreement were revealed.

Regardless of the agreement, Turkey is seen to be rapidly moving away from America and the West, and that could lead to a change in the situation in the region that Israel cannot ignore.

In a paper published last month at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, senior researchers Oded Eran and Gallia Lindenstrauss write; "The Turkish axis towards the East is a tectonic change that tends to work at seriously harming Israel's strategic interests in various fields such as energy, civil aviation, and trade. Israel should think about these issues, as well as the possible presence of China or Russia in the Eastern Mediterranean."