CHP's Bağcıoğlu urges realistic defense cooperation with the US, highlighting Turkey's shipbuilding capabilities and the need for maintenance work.
CHP Deputy Chairman Yankı Bağcıoğlu evaluated President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statements regarding cooperation with the United States in the shipbuilding industry. He stated that the Turkish shipbuilding industry has reached an important level in military ship design and production, emphasizing that this achievement is a source of pride. However, he insisted that realistic targets must be set for defense cooperation with the U.S.
Bağcıoğlu pointed out the Byrnes-Tollefson Regulation, which prohibits the construction of U.S. warships in foreign shipyards. He noted that it is currently impossible to build ships for the U.S. Armed Forces in Turkey due to existing legal regulations.
He indicated that the primary goals in defense cooperation with the U.S. should include the lifting of CAATSA sanctions, the development of technology cooperation, and the maintenance, repair, and sustainment activities of U.S. warships operating in the Mediterranean being carried out in Turkish shipyards instead of Italy and Croatia.
TURKISH SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY IS A SOURCE OF PRIDE
Bağcıoğlu noted that the Turkish shipbuilding industry has made significant progress in recent years, stating, 'The Turkish shipbuilding industry has become one of the leading countries in military ship design and production in recent years. This achievement is a source of pride for all of us.'
HE POINTED OUT THE U.S. LEGAL REGULATION
Highlighting the legal limitations in a potential partnership with the U.S., Bağcıoğlu recalled the Byrnes-Tollefson Regulation, which prohibits the construction of U.S. warships in foreign shipyards.
He expressed that due to this regulation, ships to be built for the U.S. Armed Forces cannot be produced in foreign shipyards, thus emphasizing that the targets in defense industry cooperation should be evaluated on a realistic basis.
“REALISTIC TARGETS SHOULD BE CAATSA AND MAINTENANCE-REPAIR COOPERATION”
Bağcıoğlu stressed that the primary topics in defense cooperation with the U.S. should be the lifting of CAATSA sanctions, the development of technology cooperation, and the redirection of maintenance and repair activities to Turkey.
In his statement, Bağcıoğlu said, 'Realistic targets in defense cooperation with the U.S. should primarily be the lifting of CAATSA sanctions, the development of technology cooperation, and most importantly, ensuring that the maintenance, repair, and sustainment activities of U.S. warships operating in the Mediterranean are carried out in Turkish shipyards today instead of Italy and Croatia.'
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
