Did Russia violate Turkey's airspace again?
After Turkey reported a Russian warplane infringed on its airspace Friday, the republic鈥檚 president said that Moscow would 鈥溾�� in the event of continued violations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo臒an issued the warning from the capital city of Ankara after the a Russian Su-34 entered its airspace despite repeated warnings issued by air radar units.
In a Saturday press release, the ministry claimed the Russian plane continued its flight 鈥淒espite several previous explicit statements of warnings by both Turkey and NATO鈥� and that the incident represents 鈥測et another concrete example of Russian escalatory behavior.鈥�
The on Saturday, saying, 鈥淭here have been no violations of Turkey鈥檚 airspace by aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic,鈥� according to Russian News Agency TASS.
鈥淪tatements by the Turkish side of an alleged case of violation by the Russian Su-34 aircraft of airspace are unsubstantiated propaganda,鈥� Russian Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, a ministry spokesman, said to TASS.
Despite the Russian denial, Turkey and Erdo臒an treated the reports as true and warned Moscow against aggravating regional tensions further.
鈥淲e regard this infringement which came despite all our warnings in Russian and in English as an effort by Russia to escalate the crisis in the region,鈥� Erdo臒an said, according to the Associated Press. 鈥淚f Russia continues the violations of Turkey's sovereign rights, it will be forced to endure the consequences."
鈥淭hese irresponsible steps do not help the Russian Federation, NATO-Russia relations or regional and global peace,鈥� he said. 鈥淥n the contrary they are detrimental.鈥�
The incident occurred little more than two months after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 jet near the country鈥檚 Syrian border. Turkey said the fighter entered its airspace despite repeated warnings, and it was subsequently shot down. Russia claimed the plane was never in violation of Turkey鈥檚 airspace.聽One of its two crew members was killed by Syrian rebels on the ground after ejecting from the plane, and a Russian marine died in the rescue operation to bring back the surviving officer.
In the wake of that event, Russia sent missiles to Syria and imposed economic sanctions on Ankara, heightening its tensions with Moscow.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization鈥檚 Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after the latest episode between the two countries and pledged the organization鈥檚 support for Turkey, a NATO member, in a Saturday press release.
鈥淚 call on Russia to act responsibly and to fully respect NATO airspace,鈥� Stoltenberg said. 鈥淩ussia must take all necessary measures to ensure that such violations do not happen again. I welcome the direct contacts between Ankara and Moscow, and I call for calm and de-escalation.
鈥淣ATO stands in solidarity with Turkey and supports the territorial integrity of our Ally, Turkey,鈥� he said.
Stoltenberg also supported NATO's intentions to continue bolstering Turkey鈥檚 air defense in the wake of the November shoot down, saying that decision was made in advance of Friday鈥檚 alleged violation.
