Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Congress has urged Turkey to reverse its decision to acquire a ballistic missile defense system from China.

“It is in no one’s interest that Turkey choose a system which could never be integrated with the rest of NATO’s defense capabilities,” Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces subcommittee,
said. “In essence, Turkey would be weakening itself for little apparent gain.”

Republican senators have called on the administration of President Barack Obama to pressure Turkey to suspend plans to acquire a BMD system from the state-owned China Precision Military Import and Export Corp.

The senators expressed concern that NATO could eventually agree to integrate the Chinese system into the Western alliance’s security architecture.

“We strongly urge you to exert all available diplomatic pressure to prevent Turkish procurement of a missile defense system and ensure NATO will never allow such a system to be integrated into NATO’s security architecture,” a letter by six Republican senators said.

The letter was sent to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry. Hagel has already asserted that Ankara was free to acquire the HQ-9 system from Beijing.

The six lawmakers were identified as Sen. John Barrasso, Sen. John Boozman, Sen. John Cornyn, Sen. James Inhofe, Sen. Mark Kirk and Sen. Roger Wicker. Congressional aides a similar letter was being organized in the Republican-led House.

The letter pointed out that the Chinese company, which offered HQ-9 for $3.4 billion, has been sanctioned by the United States for exporting missile equipment to Iran, North Korea and Syria. The senators also expressed
concern that China would gain access to NATO’s BMD architecture.

“Since Turkey is fully integrated into NATO’s missile defense network, such as the NATO Air Defense Ground Environment, we are concerned about the risk of third-country access to NATO and U.S. classified data and
technology,” the letter said.

The administration has pledged that HQ-9, also known as FD-2000, would not be allowed to operate with NATO. In 2013, NATO sent Turkey six Patriot BMD batteries to protect against a Syrian attack.

  China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corp, Chuck Hagel, Congress presses Turkey to reverse deal with China on missile defense system, HQ-9, Rep. Mike Rogers, Sen. John Barrasso