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NATO Warns Russia After Warplane Enters Turkish Airspace NATO Warns Russia After Warplane Enters Turkish Airspace
(about 1 hour later)
MADRID — NATO officials issued a warning to Russia on Monday, and the United States began what officials called urgent consultations with Turkey, after Turkish fighter jets intercepted a Russian warplane that entered its airspace over the weekend.MADRID — NATO officials issued a warning to Russia on Monday, and the United States began what officials called urgent consultations with Turkey, after Turkish fighter jets intercepted a Russian warplane that entered its airspace over the weekend.
Russia’s actions were “an unacceptable violation” of Turkish airspace, NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said after meeting with the Turkish foreign minister, Feridun Sinirlioglu. Mr. Stoltenberg added, “Russia’s actions are not contributing to the security and stability of the region.”Russia’s actions were “an unacceptable violation” of Turkish airspace, NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said after meeting with the Turkish foreign minister, Feridun Sinirlioglu. Mr. Stoltenberg added, “Russia’s actions are not contributing to the security and stability of the region.”
Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, speaking in Madrid during a news conference with his Spanish counterpart, said that American officials were conferring with Turkish counterparts over next steps.Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, speaking in Madrid during a news conference with his Spanish counterpart, said that American officials were conferring with Turkish counterparts over next steps.
“I don’t believe this was an accident,” said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak publicly. “I don’t believe this was an accident,” said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to comment publicly.
“Along with quite a bit of Russia’s behavior, this just affirms our deep concern over what they’re doing,” the official said, adding that Russia’s behavior “raises questions about basic safe conduct in the skies.”“Along with quite a bit of Russia’s behavior, this just affirms our deep concern over what they’re doing,” the official said, adding that Russia’s behavior “raises questions about basic safe conduct in the skies.”
A spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Turkey told the Russian news service Interfax on Monday that the Russian Ministry of Defense had conceded a mistaken crossing into Turkish airspace, and provided an explanation to the Turkish military attaché in Moscow. A spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Turkey told the Russian news service Interfax on Monday that the Russian Ministry of Defense had conceded a mistaken crossing into Turkish airspace and provided an explanation to the Turkish military attaché in Moscow.
But Russia, which began its air campaign in Syria last Monday, showed no sign that it was backing down. In fact, Adm. Vladimir Komoyedov, the head of the armed forces committee in Russia’s Parliament, told news services that pro-Russian veterans of the conflict in eastern Ukraine side will “likely” start showing up as a volunteer battalion in Syria. But Russia, which began its air campaign in Syria last Monday, showed no sign that it was backing down. In fact, Adm. Vladimir Komoyedov, the head of the armed forces committee in Russia’s Parliament, told news services that pro-Russian veterans of the conflict in eastern Ukraine side will most “likely” start showing up as a volunteer battalion in Syria.
The episode in Turkish airspace occurred on Saturday, in the Hatay region close to the Syrian border, when a Russian warplane “exited Turkish airspace into Syria after being intercepted by two F-16s from the Turkish air force, which was conducting patrols in the region,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The episode in Turkish airspace occurred on Saturday, in the Hatay region close to the Syrian border, when a Russian warplane “exited Turkish airspace into Syria after being intercepted by two F-16s from the Turkish Air Force, which was conducting patrols in the region,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador to Ankara, demanded that the violation not happen again, and said that Russia would be responsible for any further escalation, Turkish officials said. The ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador to Ankara, demanded that the violation not happen again and said that Russia would be responsible for any further escalation, Turkish officials said.
Russia’s air campaign threatens to undermine Turkey’s Syria policy, which had long sought the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad and the establishment of a “safe zone” free of Islamic State militants, to which some Syrian refugees could return in the future.Russia’s air campaign threatens to undermine Turkey’s Syria policy, which had long sought the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad and the establishment of a “safe zone” free of Islamic State militants, to which some Syrian refugees could return in the future.
“The steps Russia is taking and the bombing campaign in Syria are quite unacceptable to Turkey,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters at Istanbul airport on Sunday. “Unfortunately, Russia is making a grave mistake.”“The steps Russia is taking and the bombing campaign in Syria are quite unacceptable to Turkey,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters at Istanbul airport on Sunday. “Unfortunately, Russia is making a grave mistake.”
Turkey and Russia enjoy a strong bilateral relationship, but those relations have soured in recent months because of deep differences over Syria and the stalling of a pipeline project to carry Russian gas to Turkey.Turkey and Russia enjoy a strong bilateral relationship, but those relations have soured in recent months because of deep differences over Syria and the stalling of a pipeline project to carry Russian gas to Turkey.
When asked whether the episode would have a negative impact on Turkey-Russian relations, the Russian presidential press officer, Dmitry S. Peskov, told reporters on Monday that bilateral relations with Turkey were “comprehensive and have a very solid foundation in terms of mutually profitable relations.”When asked whether the episode would have a negative impact on Turkey-Russian relations, the Russian presidential press officer, Dmitry S. Peskov, told reporters on Monday that bilateral relations with Turkey were “comprehensive and have a very solid foundation in terms of mutually profitable relations.”
Mr. Erdogan, however, warned on Sunday that the strikes would “isolate Russia in the region.”Mr. Erdogan, however, warned on Sunday that the strikes would “isolate Russia in the region.”
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey said on Monday that Moscow had described its violation of Turkey’s airspace as a “mistake,” and said that it would not happen again.Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey said on Monday that Moscow had described its violation of Turkey’s airspace as a “mistake,” and said that it would not happen again.
“I should express it clearly, even if it is Syria, Russia or any other country’s planes, Turkey’s military engagement rules are valid for all,” Mr. Davutoglu said in a television interview on Monday.“I should express it clearly, even if it is Syria, Russia or any other country’s planes, Turkey’s military engagement rules are valid for all,” Mr. Davutoglu said in a television interview on Monday.
In Moscow, Admiral Komoyedov provided the highest official confirmation to date that veterans of the Ukraine conflict might soon be fighting on Mr. Assad’s side, in Syria.In Moscow, Admiral Komoyedov provided the highest official confirmation to date that veterans of the Ukraine conflict might soon be fighting on Mr. Assad’s side, in Syria.
“It’s likely that within the ranks of the Syrian army formations of Russian combat volunteers will appear,” he told Russian news agencies. He said the volunteers were bent on heading to Syria and “cannot be stopped.” “It’s likely that, within the ranks of the Syrian Army, formations of Russian combat volunteers will appear,” he told Russian news agencies. He said the volunteers were bent on heading to Syria and “cannot be stopped.”
President Vladimir V. Putin has ruled out sending a ground force to Syria. But Russia has a wide range of proxy groups that could serve in lieu of the regular, uniformed army, including pro-Russian militias from Ukraine.President Vladimir V. Putin has ruled out sending a ground force to Syria. But Russia has a wide range of proxy groups that could serve in lieu of the regular, uniformed army, including pro-Russian militias from Ukraine.
In the air war, Russia has been gradually ramping up its activities. After a military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, over the weekend said that airstrikes in Syria would intensify, the Russian air force announced that it had flown 25 sorties overnight Sunday to Monday, after flying an average of 20 sorties a day in the first four days of bombing. In the air war, Russia has been gradually ramping up its activities. After a military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, over the weekend said that airstrikes in Syria would intensify, the Russian Air Force announced that it had flown 25 sorties overnight Sunday to Monday, after flying an average of 20 sorties a day in the first four days of bombing.
“Our airstrikes will not only continue, but grow in intensity,” the head of the operations in the General Staff, Andrei Kartapolov, told a briefing in Moscow on Saturday. Russia is targeting command points, ammunition and explosives depots, communications nodes, bomb factories and terrorist training camps.“Our airstrikes will not only continue, but grow in intensity,” the head of the operations in the General Staff, Andrei Kartapolov, told a briefing in Moscow on Saturday. Russia is targeting command points, ammunition and explosives depots, communications nodes, bomb factories and terrorist training camps.