Will Russia’s Ukraine invasion push Nato’s prodigal son Turkey back into US arms?

The Ukraine war has given Washington and Ankara an opportunity to revive their ties that have soured over stalled defence deals and human rights disputes

While Turkey struck a measured tone in the face of its economic ally’s military action, experts say Nato and the US need the country to tackle a combative Moscow

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An Ukrainian soldier keeps position at a frontline, northeast of Kyiv on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00pm, 4 Mar 2022Updated: 12:46pm, 9 Mar 2022

The Ukraine war has prompted calls in Washington’s foreign policy circles for the United States to rebuild defence ties with prodigal Nato member Turkey.

Turkey has declined to enforce Western sanctions against Russia, with which it shares a maritime border in the Black Sea. Ankara depends on Moscow for nearly half the natural gas it consumes and for two-thirds of the wheat it imports.

Despite Turkey’s closeness with Russia, it has also maintained friendly ties with Ukraine, which received 20 Bayraktar TB2 drones last year after the West snubbed Kyiv’s request.

These weapons have proven effective against Russian tanks and air defence systems following Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour. Ukrainian officials claim they have got more drones since the February 24 military operation.

While Turkey has not confirmed the latest deal, Istanbul-based political analyst Yusuf Erim said the country does have “drones on stock where an expedited sale would be possible.”

Before the Russian shelling, Turkey was working with Ukraine to establish a pro-Nato bloc that included Azerbaijan and Georgia, which applied for membership of the European Union on Wednesday.