US analyst: Turkey will play a key role in NATO and cooperate regarding Iran with the US

“Turkey and Azerbaijan have a good relationship and should further develop their cooperation in the military and defense policy”, Dr. Stefan Meister, an analyst on South Caucasus and Eastern Europe region, who is also a Program Officer at the German Council on Foreign Relations, said.

He believes, Turkey’s recent decision on installing NATO missile defense radars in its territory “is a clear message, that despite its policy as an emerging regional leader, Turkey will play a key role in NATO and cooperate regarding Iran with the US”.

“Regarding Iran there is not a new line, it is the continuation of an existing policy. The relations are so damaged, that there will be maybe a rhetorical reaction but no worsening. Regarding Russia it is different. Increasing cooperation of Turkey with NATO will be critical seen from Russia. A NATO defense shield without Russia is one of the post critical topics in the relations between Russia and NATO/the US. It depends on how Ankara and Washington will communicate this to Moscow. But it shows again, that the peak of the reset policy is overstepped”, he added.

In the meanwhile, the analyst says, the cooperation between US and Russia regarding Gabala has future.

“The US never took it really seriously, because they want to control the radar system and not share the responsibility”.

As for Azerbaijan, Mr. Meister mentions that, although it has not the best relations with Iran, Baku successfully carries a balancing policy between Russia and the US.


/APA/