Why Turkey Chose, and Then Rejected, a Chinese Air-Defense Missile

Abstract

Ankara's decisions say a lot about what Turkey wants from the U.S. and NATO, if only the West will listen. When Turkey announced its intention to buy a Chinese missile system in 2013, many in the West believed Ankara was veering away from NATO. But look at that decision—and its recent reversal— through Turkish eyes, and the situation looks a lot different. Ultimately, the episode should teach its Western allies about what Turkey really wants, and doesn’t want.