The Wagner group has met representatives of Turkey in a secret meeting. According to leaked documents from the Pentagon, the Russian private army met with representatives from the NATO country in the hope of buying weapons, writes the Washington Post. – It is clearly stomach-churning that a NATO ally behaves in that way. However, I am not particularly surprised that Turkey keeps the channels open to both Russia and Turkey, says Magnus Christiansson, university lecturer in military science, FHS. The meeting is said to have taken place at the beginning of February – when the Wagner group is said to have “met with Turkish contacts to buy weapons and equipment” from Turkey to strengthen their positions both in Ukraine and Mali. The leaked documents show that US intelligence had knowledge of the meeting between Russia’s private army and NATO ally Turkey. Classified as top secret It is not clear from the top secret report whether the Turkish government knew about the meeting, or whether the parties managed to complete an arms deal. However, it appears that Mali’s interim president, Assimi Goïta, “confirmed that Mali can buy weapons from Turkey on behalf of the Wagner group.” The revelation that a NATO ally may have supported Russia in their war of aggression in Ukraine has sparked reactions. But according to Magnus Christiansson, senior lecturer in military science at the Norwegian Defense Academy, the disclosure is in line with Turkey’s political stance regarding the war in Ukraine. – Turkey is betting on both parties in the conflict. On the one hand, they supported Ukraine with weapons, on the other hand, they make strategic nuclear deals with the Russians, he says. Concerns about Iranian nuclear weapons According to Magnus Christianson, one reason for Turkey’s double game is Iran’s role in the political game, as the country’s foreign policy has become increasingly harsh. – There is a much deeper strategic dimension in Turkey’s balancing act. The Russians have helped the Turks build nuclear power plants and in the background of that decision lies the question of what would happen if Iran acquires nuclear weapons, he says. The nuclear power plants that Russia helped build in Turkey are not only strategically important from an energy policy perspective. There are also military strategic points to be gained, as the plants could fulfill a function in the ranks of producing nuclear weapons. Turkey has so far chosen not to comment on the data. TV4 Nyheterna has contacted the Ministry of Defense and its minister, who however declined to comment on the information. In the player above: See more about what is known so far about the secret documents.
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The leak reveals: The Wagner Group in meeting with Turkey – for arms purchases
