ATC, formed more than 20 years ago, has served to lobby the United
States to expand defense cooperation and trade with Turkey. The council has
included senior executives from such U.S. defense majors as Boeing, Lockheed
Martin and Sikorsky Aircraft.
Over the last three years, U.S. defense companies have stayed away from
many Turkish military tenders. Turkey's Defense Industry Undersecretariat
introduced new requirements for bidders, including co-production and
technology transfer, conditions blocked by the State Department.
Executives said Armitage, who flew to Ankara in mid-November, plans to
persuade the Defense Department and State Department to relax defense export
restrictions to Turkey, a leading member of NATO. They said Armitage would
argue that Turkey fills a unique strategic position, the only NATO ally that
neighbors Iran, Iraq and Syria.
"Gen. Scowcroft and Ambassador Armitage will travel to Turkey November
16-20 for senior-level discussions with Turkey's government, military and
business leadership," ATC said. "This timely visit will assure the smoothest
possible transition for ATC."
In September 2009, ATC invited visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Erdogan for a luncheon to review relations with the United States. Instead,
Erdogan sent his deputy, Ali Babacan, in a 70-minute discussion on
U.S.-Turkish defense and energy relations.
