Context
Turkey would be denied access to NATO’s intelligence info on incoming ballistic missiles in case it decides to purchase Russian or Chinese systems for its national missile and air defense program, coalition officials have warned. Participants in the race to win the contract are Russia’s Rosoboronexport, China’s CPMIEC and the US union between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Ankara plans to take a decision by late 2011 or early 2012. Western officials and analysts believe that because the Chinese and Russian systems aren’t compatible with NATO’s procedures, their selection might offer them access to secret NATO info, and hence could compromise NATO’s systems.
