Posted on 10/09/2011 6:05:01 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
South Korea threatens to cancel all defense deals with Israel
South Korea threat comes in response to fear that Israel Air Force has decided to purchase a new training plane from rival Italy.
By Amos Harel
The purchase of the Israel Air Force's new training plane is causing serious diplomatic tension between Israel and South Korea: Fearing that Israel has already decided on a rival plane made in Italy, the Koreans are now threatening in return to cancel all their deals for purchasing Israeli defense systems.
In recent years, the South Koreans have purchased an average of $280 million a year in such defense products.
The decision on the IAF's new trainer is supposed to be made within a few months, toward the end of this year or early in 2012. The deal includes over 20 planes and is worth $1 billion spread over a few years. The air force is considering two planes, the Italian M346 trainer and the South Korean T-50 jet. The force held test flights for both planes earlier this year.
The decision is to be based on criteria set by the IAF, but not exclusively: It seems the final decision will also be influenced significantly by Israel's relations with both countries.
Here the Italians have a major advantage: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is a staunch supporter of Israel and his relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are very close. In light of Israel's growing diplomatic isolation, the government sees great importance in preserving Israel's close relationship with Italy.
That is exactly what is worrying the South Koreans. Seoul fears that the competition for the new plane, which Israel has presented as a down-to-t
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
I’m surprised this much became public.
The “five forces of industry.”
No big thing...a billion here, a billion there. It's just your money. Who cares.
This is par for the couse regarding South Korea. If Israel does buy the Italian trainer... expect South Korea to support the Palestinians out of spite. That, and the Korean people will start up some amazingly anti-Semitic cr@p.
Just look at their behavior regarding America and Americans as a guide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOCW6qHfKBw&feature=related
Fearing that Israel has already decided on a rival plane made in Italy, the Koreans are now threatening in return to cancel all their deals for purchasing Israeli defense systems. In recent years, the South Koreans have purchased an average of $280 million a year in such defense products.
I go with Yehuda's reply in post #9. That works for me too.
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