US to Offer Military Support to Turkey for Anti-terror CooperationWashington is planning to offer a package of support to Turkey as quids pro quo for its cooperation in US anti-terror operations in Afghanistan, the Anatolia News Agency reported on Wednesday.The military aspects of the support package is being carried out by the US Defense Department, the news agency said. The U.S. has planned to transfer weapons and military equipments including helicopters to Turkey by donations or by selling at reasonable prices. Some military helicopters worth 25 million U.S. dollars are expected to be donated to Turkey while Seahawk type naval helicopters needed by the Turkish Naval Forces will be sold to Turkey through the U.S. Eximbank credits. The weapons and equipments which can be transferred to Turkey by donations or by giving facilities can also be diversified. Washington is also working on certain measures aimed at facilitating Turkish textile and steel exports to the U.S.. Observers in Washington believe that the provisions of the support package in the defense field are not expected to be opposed by the U.S. Congress. Turkey, U.S. NATO ally and strategic partner, opened its air space and military bases to U.S. and British aircraft for military operations in Afghanistan after October 7. The Turkish government announced on Friday that it would send a 90-member special force unit to join the U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |