According to the Washington Post, the Obama administration is considering a request from Turkey to base a fleet of Predator drones on Turkish soil for counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq, a decision that could strengthen a diplomatic alliance but drag the United States deeper into a regional conflict.The US has flown the unarmed Predators from Iraqi bases since 2007 and shared the planes’ surveillance video with Turkey as part of a secretive joint crackdown against fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. Unless a new home for the Predators is found, however, the counterterrorism partnership could cease by December, when all forces are scheduled to withdraw from Iraq.
The agreement would be a novel one, as already many countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan have distanced themselves from the US as much as possible. Many point to Chinese officials who have been trying to drive a rift between Muslim leaders and the US. However, Turkey, a much more Westernized and industrial country has much more at stake.
Seen as one of the industrial and transportation hubs in the East, the country‘s economy may be easily threatened by rebel fighters from the Kurdish areas.
However, the Obama administration has not yet made a decision on the Turkish request, according to senior US military officials. Turkey though, may continue to pressure US officials, as Turkey has become highly dependent on the Predators, U-2 spy aircraft and other US intelligence sources.
(아주경제 앤드류 이 기자)
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com