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By: Mr. Mahmoud Tavana
Introduction:
The notion of the elimination of WMD from the world is nothing new. It’s origin came about as a result of developments that shaped during and following the Cold War, and its most important element was the monitoring bodies, agencies and organizations on arms control and proliferation of WMD lost control.The key role of the big powers and western countries in the proliferation of WMD in two ways of direct interference in the proliferation and distribution of these weapons by way of selling them or giving them to some friendly and allied countries, and or providing the technology for the production of such weapons to these countries, and also the threats that the aforementioned have been caused by these allied countries around the world, are all undeniable. This important particularly that these measures have effects from two angles in “creation of a race to establish military balance” and or “confrontation with possible threats”, and this has resulted in the escalation of the piling of WMD by other countries.
This article reviews the situation of two influencing Middle Eastern countries which include Israel as a strategic US ally, and Turkey as a US military ally which is host to US military bases on its soil, both factors that make the aforementioned claims in encouraging neighbouring countries to pile these weapons both from the competition and being able to face these threats aspects, while the bilateral good relations between Israel and Turkey also aggravate feelings and sentiments among neighbouring countries are all important to note.
The study of military capabilities and capacities of these two countries in the region, makes us recognize and understand the huge obstacle in the way of implementation of the notion of a Middle East free of WMD. Also the role of western countries, the United States in particular, in supplying these two countries with arms has clearly influenced the establishment of a race and threat for the neighbouring countries.
The selection of these two countries is because of unique characteristics that each have in the region. On one hand Israel has a military and confrontational status against its Islamic neighbours and is seen as a threat, and on the other hand, as an Islamic country, Turkey has particular and good relations with the same Islamic countries, and at the same time seen as their rival in the region. A glancing look at the military situation and capabilities of these two countries from various angles can help us to further understand and recognize the obstacles in the way of disarmament in the region and also to see the necessity to find solutions
Part one – Israel:
Military costs include: the military defence budget in 2000 was equal to 9.5 billion dollars, in 2001 9 billion dollars, foreign military aid in 2000 was equal to 4 billion dollars.
The military budget for each Israeli is equal to twice the amount for an American, 3 times the amount in France, 4 times the amount in Britain (totaling 831 million dollars).
The ratio of those in military employment in Israel is five times as much in the US and France, and 8 times as much in Britain (49.76%) The military budget in proportion to the national GDP in Israel is 6 times as much in comparison to the US and Britain, and 8 times as much in comparison to France (30.7%).
Military exports to Israel in 1995 were equal to the military exports to Sweden and Ukraine (353 million dollars).
In 2002 there were 163,500 personnel active in Israeli armed forces, and 425,000 in reserve.
The compulsory military training for officers is 4 years, three years for the rest and 21 months for women.
- Capabilities:
Army:
3930 tanks; 5500 personnel carriers; 1357 artillery; 200 various rocket launchers.
Air force:
446 active fighter jets; 250 reserve fighter jets; 133 combat helicopters.
Navy:
6 British and German submarines; 3 warships; 10 floating rocket launchers.
Missiles:
500 missile launchers; 1500 Ariha 1 and 2 missiles with nuclear capabilities with the help of France (1956), the United States (1975), and Russia (2000).
Military and spy satellites:
Four satellites orbiting the earth.
Israel’s nuclear programme:
- 1949 US and French backing;
- 1955 agreement with the UN for the construction of a research reactor;
- 1952 establishment of the Atomic Energy Organization associated to the Ministry of Defence, headed by Dr. David Bergman discoverer of Uranium in the Negev Desert;
- 1953 construction of the Dimona reactor in the Negev desert with the help of France;
- 1959 construction of the Nahal reactor in the Soureq Valley south of Tel Aviv;
- Production of approximately 200 nuclear warheads from 1968 to-date.
Part two – Turkey:
Top nation in the region in defence spending in 2001 and ranked number 8 in the world with a budget equal to 8.100 billion dollars.
2.8% of the national GDP is the cost of the defence, fourth in the region and second in NATO following the US.
Importing 442 million dollars worth of conventional weapons, second in the neighbouring countries following Greece.
1.5 million dollar Proposal to purchase 4 AWACS planes in 2007 which included the purchase of one and construction of three with the help of the United States.
Production of 240 F16 jets and restoration of 50 F4 fighter jets, and joint production of 117 F16s with the help of the United States.
Restoration of 170 tanks with the help of Israel.
Purchase of 145 helicopters from Russia.
Production of 9 UAVs with the help of the United States and Israel.
Production of submarine and tanks with the help of Germany.
Joined NATO in 1952. NATO bse in Injerlik and US military base in Izmir.
Extensive military cooperation with the United States, Israel, Britain, Germany, France, Russia and Italy in production of military hardware.
Military personnel totaling 639,000 equaling the total number of personnel of six neighbouring countries of Syria, Greece, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. (Ranked 7th in the world).
- Capabilities:
Army:
- 3500 tanks, 5400 armoured personnel carriers, 240 rocket launchers, 2700 artillery
- Army personnel numbering at 535,000 ranked fourth in the world.
Air force:
- Assortment of 430 active American fighter jets, 85 military planes, 6 AWACS planes, 456 combat helicopters, 150 UAVs.
- Has the largest number of F16 fighter jets capable of refueling in the air following the United States.
- Approximately 8500 air to air, air to surface, surface to air missiles.
- Air force personnel numbering at 63,000 ranked 8th in the world.
Navy:
- 12 submarines, 26 battleships, 96 patrol gunships, 50 personnel carrier ships, 60 marine helicopters, 22 sea cruise guided missiles.
- Navy personnel numbering 51,000 ranked 8th in the world.
Conclusion:
As mentioned earlier, studying the above samples, the root cause of the piling of WMD of these countries can be narrowed down to their military shift towards big western powers, the United States in particular. And the stimulation of the neighbouring countries towards militarization for the purpose of securing national security and interests is completely comprehendible. Especially when Israel as the only regional country equipped with nuclear weapons and completely ignoring international treaties and pacts, is a big obstacle in the fulfillment of the notion of a WMD free Middle East. This in itself gives urgency to provide proper information to the region’s public opinion through NGOs and the institutionalization of the said notion in the region more than ever before.
Sources:
1. Military Balance, 2001-2002
2. www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel
3. www.army.technology.com
4. www.wisconsinproject.org/countries/israel
5. The Risk Report, volume1, No.5, June 1995
6. The Risk Report, volume4, No.2, March 1998
7. SIPRI Yearbook 2000
8. www.lcwebx.loc.gov
9. www.cdi.org/issues/cbw/israel
10. www.politikforen.de/showthread
11. www.photius.com/countries/turkey
12. CIA world fact book, 2003
13. www.turkishnavy.net
14. www.tuaf.mil.tr
15. www.globalsecurity.com
16. www.tsk.mil.tr
Mahmoud Tavana
UNA-IRAN
Spring 2008
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