NATO voices solidarity with Turkey amid Russia incursion

BRUSSELS

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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Russia on Oct. 5 to avoid escalating tensions with the transatlantic alliance through “unacceptable” violations of Turkish airspace, while the U.S. also voiced its concern.

Stoltenberg convened an emergency meeting of NATO member countries after Turkey said its jets intercepted a Russian fighter plane near the Syrian border.

“I just met with Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu to discuss the recent military actions of the Russian Federation in and around Syria, including the unacceptable violations of Turkish airspace by Russian combat aircraft,” he said.

“I call on Russia to fully respect NATO airspace and avoid escalating tensions with the alliance.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, meanwhile, said American officials were conferring with Turkish counterparts over next steps.

“By taking military action in Syria against moderate groups, Russia has escalated the civil war,” Carter said in Madrid during a news conference with his Spanish counterpart.

“I don’t believe this was an accident,” said a senior U.S. administration official, who spoke on 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.”

With tensions high after Russia began air strikes targeting what it said were Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in Syria last week, Sinirlioğlu requested the talks after Turkey said it had intercepted a Russian fighter on Oct. 3.

Ambassadors from NATO’s 28 member states were to meet in the North Atlantic Council late on Oct. 5 to discuss the situation.

“I made clear that NATO remains strongly committed to Turkey’s security … Russia’s actions are not contributing to the security and stability of the region,” the U.S. official said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was separately meeting top EU officials in Brussels on Oct. 5 for talks dominated by the migrant crisis and the deepening conflict in Syria, where he has backed rebels seeking the ouster of long-time Russian ally President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey said that if there was any repeat intrusion then Russia “will be responsible for any undesired incident that may occur.”

Erdoğan says Russia’s bombing campaign in Syria is “unacceptable” and has warned Moscow that it is making a “grave mistake.”

NATO has stationed Patriot missiles on Turkey’s southern border with Syria to prevent any spillover from a bitter conflict that has left 250,000 people dead and sparked a mass exodus of migrants seeking safety in Europe.

The missiles are, however, due to be pulled out shortly and it is uncertain if they will be replaced. NATO has previously stated that the issue was “under review.”

Turkish FM met with NATO Chief 

Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu met with the NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Oct. 5, following Russia’s flight incursion into Turkey.

Turkish diplomatic sources said Stoltenberg confirmed NATO’s responsibility for Turkey’s security, underlining the Alliance’s solidarity with Turkey in the face of recent violations of its airspace

Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu met with the NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Oct. 5, following Russia’s flight incursion into Turkey.

Turkish diplomatic sources said Stoltenberg confirmed NATO’s responsibility for Turkey’s security, underlining the Alliance’s solidarity with Turkey in the face of recent violations of its airspace.