Al Bhatti
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March 10, 2015
Turkey-GCC alliance ‘not to be ruled out’
Ankara last week signed a military accord with Qatar allowing troop deployments
Hassan Kemal Yardimci, Turkey’s deputy defence minister, said that a military alliance between his country and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members should not be ruled out.
“All options are open to boost military cooperation with the countries in the region,” Yardimci was quoted as saying by Bahraini daily Al Ayam on Tuesday.
The minister, who was in Bahrain as part of a Gulf tour that will also take him to other Gulf states, said that his visit was to reinforce military cooperation with the kingdom.
“We want to work together to boost military ties with Bahrain,” he said. “This visit paves the way for a common ground and joint marine manoeuvres with Bahrain in the near future should not be ruled out,” he said.
It was revealed last week that Qatar and Turkey have signed a military agreement that gives both countries the possibility to deploy soldiers in each other’s territory in special cases.
Brat Junkar, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Turkish Parliament, made the revelation, saying Turkey views its relations with the Gulf states through a strategic prism.
The military accord between Ankara and Doha also includes expanding cooperation in military training, defence industry and joint military drills.
The foreign affairs committee in the Turkish parliament last week endorsed the agreement to be debated by the lawmakers.
In Bahrain, the deputy minister said no military agreements were signed during the visit.
“However, there is shared work we are doing together with our Bahraini friends,” he said as he attended a reception hosted aboard the Turkish Navy Corvette TCG Buyukada (F-512).
The 2400-tonne, 99.5 metre long corvette, equipped with numerous weapons systems, can carry a helicopter and a crew of approximately 90 sailors, has joined Nato’s counter piracy Operation Ocean Shield.
“The Turkish national warship is conducting a deployment in the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Arabian Gulf and adjacent areas from February to April,” the Turkish embassy in Manama said. “It will carry out operations and exercises in cooperation with the navies of the regional countries in order to contribute to enhancing bilateral relations between Turkey and the Gulf countries.”
The modern littoral combat warship with indigenous surface, air and anti-submarine warfare capabilities will also conduct training with several counter-piracy naval forces operating in the Indian Ocean, Nato said in a statement last month.
“The ship will provide support to Nato’s regional capacity building efforts in order to enhance interoperability and cooperation between the nations in the area,” the military alliance said.
Commander Nato Allied Maritime Command Vice Admiral Peter Hudson welcomed “Turkish Navy’s continued support to counter piracy efforts and its firm commitment to international maritime security.”
“Though the number of piracy attacks has significantly declined, piracy at sea has not been eliminated, so vigilance by the international community remains necessary,” he said.
Last week, Turkey’s Ambassador to Bahrain Hatun Demirer said that Ankara was keen on developing relations with Manama in all fields.
“Turkey attaches importance to Bahrain,” she said. “There is political will at both sides to further develop already existing good relations in all fields based on our common history and culture. Turkey and Bahrain closely cooperate at multinational platforms as well for the best interests of our nations,” she said.
Bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Bahrain has a tendency to increase, she added.
“We have realised approximately $500 million trade volume in 2014. This number was $139 million in 2009. Trade volume between Turkey and the GCC was close to $16 billion in 2014,” she said.
Hatun is the second Turkish woman ambassador posted in Bahrain. Hilal Başkal made history twice in June 2001 by becoming the first woman ambassador in Bahrain and the first Turkish woman appointed as the head of a diplomatic mission in an Arab country. She left the kingdom in December 2005.
Turkey-GCC alliance ‘not to be ruled out’ | GulfNews.com
Turkey-GCC alliance ‘not to be ruled out’
Ankara last week signed a military accord with Qatar allowing troop deployments
Hassan Kemal Yardimci, Turkey’s deputy defence minister, said that a military alliance between his country and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members should not be ruled out.
“All options are open to boost military cooperation with the countries in the region,” Yardimci was quoted as saying by Bahraini daily Al Ayam on Tuesday.
The minister, who was in Bahrain as part of a Gulf tour that will also take him to other Gulf states, said that his visit was to reinforce military cooperation with the kingdom.
“We want to work together to boost military ties with Bahrain,” he said. “This visit paves the way for a common ground and joint marine manoeuvres with Bahrain in the near future should not be ruled out,” he said.
It was revealed last week that Qatar and Turkey have signed a military agreement that gives both countries the possibility to deploy soldiers in each other’s territory in special cases.
Brat Junkar, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Turkish Parliament, made the revelation, saying Turkey views its relations with the Gulf states through a strategic prism.
The military accord between Ankara and Doha also includes expanding cooperation in military training, defence industry and joint military drills.
The foreign affairs committee in the Turkish parliament last week endorsed the agreement to be debated by the lawmakers.
In Bahrain, the deputy minister said no military agreements were signed during the visit.
“However, there is shared work we are doing together with our Bahraini friends,” he said as he attended a reception hosted aboard the Turkish Navy Corvette TCG Buyukada (F-512).
The 2400-tonne, 99.5 metre long corvette, equipped with numerous weapons systems, can carry a helicopter and a crew of approximately 90 sailors, has joined Nato’s counter piracy Operation Ocean Shield.
“The Turkish national warship is conducting a deployment in the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Arabian Gulf and adjacent areas from February to April,” the Turkish embassy in Manama said. “It will carry out operations and exercises in cooperation with the navies of the regional countries in order to contribute to enhancing bilateral relations between Turkey and the Gulf countries.”
The modern littoral combat warship with indigenous surface, air and anti-submarine warfare capabilities will also conduct training with several counter-piracy naval forces operating in the Indian Ocean, Nato said in a statement last month.
“The ship will provide support to Nato’s regional capacity building efforts in order to enhance interoperability and cooperation between the nations in the area,” the military alliance said.
Commander Nato Allied Maritime Command Vice Admiral Peter Hudson welcomed “Turkish Navy’s continued support to counter piracy efforts and its firm commitment to international maritime security.”
“Though the number of piracy attacks has significantly declined, piracy at sea has not been eliminated, so vigilance by the international community remains necessary,” he said.
Last week, Turkey’s Ambassador to Bahrain Hatun Demirer said that Ankara was keen on developing relations with Manama in all fields.
“Turkey attaches importance to Bahrain,” she said. “There is political will at both sides to further develop already existing good relations in all fields based on our common history and culture. Turkey and Bahrain closely cooperate at multinational platforms as well for the best interests of our nations,” she said.
Bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Bahrain has a tendency to increase, she added.
“We have realised approximately $500 million trade volume in 2014. This number was $139 million in 2009. Trade volume between Turkey and the GCC was close to $16 billion in 2014,” she said.
Hatun is the second Turkish woman ambassador posted in Bahrain. Hilal Başkal made history twice in June 2001 by becoming the first woman ambassador in Bahrain and the first Turkish woman appointed as the head of a diplomatic mission in an Arab country. She left the kingdom in December 2005.
Turkey-GCC alliance ‘not to be ruled out’ | GulfNews.com
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