Reaction to the Ministry of National Defense: 'The US should be defined as an aggressor'

Confirming the claim that became an agenda item in the TBMM, which Terkoğlu carried to his column under the title "NATO's New Turkish Army," MSB Press and Public Relations Advisor and Ministry Spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk stated that the headquarters in question was prepared in advance by the allies "within the scope of threat assessment" in line with the NATO Southeast Regional Plan; therefore, he conveyed that the planned "Multinational Corps Headquarters" has no connection to US-Israel attacks against Iran.

Former TBMM Deputy Speaker Gürkan and former MSB General Secretary Yalım shared their views with 12punto regarding Aktürk's statements at the MSB's weekly press briefing.

'EVACUATION OF TSK PERSONNEL'

Making statements on many issues, Aktürk announced that within the scope of NATO's plan to withdraw from the "Iraq Mission," the TSK personnel serving in Baghdad have also been evacuated to Turkey. Regarding this, Yalım commented, "The NATO Iraq Mission was established in 2004 upon the request of the Iraqi Interim Government in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1546. The aforementioned mission provided training and instruction support to the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Iraqi Armed Forces and the Iraqi Police by supporting the post-war Iraqi command and control structure. Turkey assigned 2 Turkish soldiers to the mission in Baghdad starting from September 2007. Parallel to the end of the mission's mandate, the Turkish soldiers have also returned to Turkey. This is a routine procedure carried out due to the termination of the NATO Mission. Our military presence in the Northern Iraq Region continues in order to ensure the security of our borders from a distance. The legal basis for Turkey's military presence in Northern Iraq is the 1926 Treaty signed between Turkey, Iraq, and the UK, and the 1946 Treaty signed between Turkey and Iraq."

'IT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED'

Regarding the statement made by the MSB on the "NATO Army" planned in Turkey, Yalım stated, "The Allied Land Command Southeast (LANDSOUTHEAST), which was stationed in İzmir and headed by a Turkish General, was transformed into the Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) in 2012. According to the Ministry's statement, it is understood that a transformation close to the old structure will be made," while Gürkan remarked, "As the spokesperson said, it may not have anything to do with Iran at the establishment stage, but why was such an entity needed? This needs to be clarified. It also needs to be clarified how such an entity will behave regarding Iran after the Iran incident emerged."

'THE US SHOULD BE DEFINED AS AN AGGRESSOR'

It was noted that MSB Press and Public Relations Advisor and Ministry Spokesperson Rear Admiral Aktürk did not define the US as an "aggressor" in his remarks that "Conflicts between the US/Israel and Iran and Israel's ongoing aggression continue to threaten peace and stability in the Middle East." In contrast, the clarity of the emphasis on Israel was evaluated by some circles as an attempt to exonerate the US. While Gürkan expressed, "This approach is not 'exonerating the US,' but a policy of not angering the US," Yalım stated, "Turkey does not label the US as an aggressor in order to ensure that its relations with the US are not damaged. However, like Israel, the US should also be defined as an aggressor."

News: Cenk Başboğaoğlu