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Washington: No US-made F-16s in Turkey-China drill
Turkey has assured the US it would take the "utmost care" to protect sensitive US and NATO technology, a US official has stated, while discussing joint military exercises held by Turkey and China.
Last month China and Turkey held joint aerial exercises at Turkey's training range in the Central Anatolia town of Konya, where Anatolian Eagle exercises are taking place between NATO allies and friendly countries. The exercises appeared to be the first such drill involving Beijing and Turkey.
Remarks from Washington concerning the exercises and Turkey's assurance of the United States came from the US Department of Defense on Friday. US Army Lt. Col. Tamara Parker, a department spokesperson, described Turkey's government as committed to NATO and the continuation of strong ties with the United States.
"To the best of our knowledge, US-made F-16s were not involved in the exercise," Parker said, as she referred a caller to the Turkish government for details of the maneuvers.
Last week, a leading Israeli daily suggested that the US and Israel are watching with concern the growing military cooperation among Turkey, China and Iran, especially following the military exercises.
The Chinese-Turkish maneuvers occurred before a visit to Turkey last week by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Turkey and China aim to triple two-way trade to $50 billion a year by 2015 under a new "strategic partnership," Wen told a news conference in Ankara on Friday.
Turkey has assured the US it would take the "utmost care" to protect sensitive US and NATO technology, a US official has stated, while discussing joint military exercises held by Turkey and China.
Last month China and Turkey held joint aerial exercises at Turkey's training range in the Central Anatolia town of Konya, where Anatolian Eagle exercises are taking place between NATO allies and friendly countries. The exercises appeared to be the first such drill involving Beijing and Turkey.
Remarks from Washington concerning the exercises and Turkey's assurance of the United States came from the US Department of Defense on Friday. US Army Lt. Col. Tamara Parker, a department spokesperson, described Turkey's government as committed to NATO and the continuation of strong ties with the United States.
"To the best of our knowledge, US-made F-16s were not involved in the exercise," Parker said, as she referred a caller to the Turkish government for details of the maneuvers.
Last week, a leading Israeli daily suggested that the US and Israel are watching with concern the growing military cooperation among Turkey, China and Iran, especially following the military exercises.
The Chinese-Turkish maneuvers occurred before a visit to Turkey last week by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Turkey and China aim to triple two-way trade to $50 billion a year by 2015 under a new "strategic partnership," Wen told a news conference in Ankara on Friday.
