Turkey believes NATO members won't share intelligence with Israel

Turkey has said it trusts promise of NATO member states on keeping its intelligence within the alliance and not sharing it with Israel, Turkey's new foe. Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz told reporters following NATO's Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels that one should trust NATO member states' pledge that they won't use the intelligence they gather from NATO's early warning radar system in the southeast of the country that will serve as part of the alliance's missile defense system. Yilmaz also warned that this intelligence cannot be used outside NATO member states, referring to Israel. Turkey agreed to host the radar in September as part of NATO's missile defense system aimed at countering ballistic missile threats from neighboring Iran. Ankara claims the shield doesn't target a specific country and had threatened to block the deal if Iran was explicitly named as a threat. A military installation in Kurecik has been designated as the radar site, according to Turkish government officials. Kurecik in Malatya province lies some 700 kilometers (435 miles) west of the Iranian border. Yilmaz stressed that the primary reason for NATO's early warning radar system is to maintain the security of Europe. Yilmaz also added that by the radar system, Turkey is also protecting itself. Yilmaz said he had a chance to have talks with his British, Canadian, Australian and Afghan counterparts and said all of them stressed Turkey's increasingly influence in the region and asked for more cooperation.