If the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) accepted Turkey as a member state, that could serve to improve the NATO-Russian relationship, further promote SCO economic integration, and add strength in counteracting terrorism, separatism and extremism, the primary goals of SCO. Russian suspicions of Turkey, however, pose one of several challenges to the idea.

The decision of the Turkish government to purchase its first long-range air and missile defense system from a Chinese corporation rather than competing U.S., European, and Russian systems has aroused much attention. However, this decision is unsurprising given Ankara’s longstanding desire to gain as much foreign defense technology as possible for the lowest cost.

The US should help NATO countries work together with countries in the East for the benefit of world peace, writes Wu Zurong. Whether to sow discord and create new divisions between the East and the West, or to increase mutual understanding and cooperation between them is a serious test.

Richard Weitz outlines the decision to send NATO missile defense systems to Turkey, and the opportunity for Chinese-American cooperation in a post-Assad Syria.