Britain eyeing Turkish defense systems market

Baroness Ann Taylor, British minister for International Defense and Security, said she did not see any reason to believe that there will be backtracking from the agreement. But she remained vague as to which of the promises made to Turkey would be kept and when.

The Turkish government had informed the Turkish press that it withdrew its objection to the candidacy of the former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen only after it was promised Turkish officials would be appointed to top military and civilian positions. However, there have also been press reports that there would not be any new appointments to the top positions in the alliance.

Baroness Taylor was in Turkey for the defense fair to promote Britain’s defense technology. She said Britain had cutting edge technology, especially for counter terrorism. British officials have said Turkey might need new technology, particularly for the protection of the existing oil and natural gas pipelines, as well as those to be built in the future.