Putin dares Turkey to test Russia’s air defences in Syria
Mark MacKinnon
ANKARA — The Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 7:26AM EST
Last updated Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 9:36AM EST
Russian President Vladimir Putin again raised the stakes Thursday in his country’s conflict with Turkey, using a press conference to dare the Turkish Air Force to try flying in Syrian airspace now that Russia has deployed sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles in the region.
Relations between Russia and Turkey – and specifically between Mr. Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – have been hostile since a Nov. 24 incident that saw a Turkish fighter jet shoot down a Russian Su-24 warplane that Ankara says briefly entered its airspace. One of the two pilots was shot dead by Syrian rebels as he parachuted to the ground, while the other survived and was rescued.
While both Russia and Turkey claim to be taking part in the fight to destroy the so-called Islamic State, their other aims in Syria are at loggerheads. Ankara has aided any and all groups that share its goal of toppling President Bashar al-Assad. Moscow, meanwhile, intervened in the conflict this fall to keep Mr. Assad’s regime from collapsing.
Moscow has responded to the incident – which Mr. Putin called a “backstabbing” – with a host of measures, including a ban on many Turkish goods, the cancellation of Russian tourist packages to Turkey, an end to visa-free entry to Russia for Turkish passport holders and a refusal to meet or speak with Turkey’s leadership.
On the military front, Russia has dispatched more warplanes to its airbase in the northwestern Syrian city of Latakia, where it has also deployed its most sophisticated anti-aircraft system, the S-400 mobile multiple-launch battery. The S-400 has a range of 400 kilometres, meaning that from Latakia it can hit targets over most of Syria, as well as over Cyprus and much of southern Turkey.
Russia has also deployed additional warships to the eastern Mediterranean and has provided new anti-aircraft systems to the Syrian army.
“We think the actions of the Turkish leadership toward our plane that was shot down were not just unfriendly, it was a hostile action – an act of enmity,” Mr. Putin told his annual year-end news conference in Moscow.
“Did they really think we would flee after the incident? That we would remove all our forces?” he continued. “Russia is not a country that withdraws or shies away from the challenge. On the contrary, we increased our military presence, we increased the number of our aircraft, we increased our anti-aircraft missiles, etc. Before that, the Turkish Air Force was flying over Syria. Well, I invite them to try flying over Syria now, because they will get a very serious response.”
Turkey appears to have already been avoiding Syrian airspace since the incident. Turkish media have reported that the country’s warplanes have stopped taking part in a U.S.-led campaign of air strikes against IS out of concern that Russian or Syrian forces would try to shoot down a Turkish jet in retaliation for the downing of the Su-24. (Russian jets, unlike planes from the U.S.-led coalition, are flying over Syria at the invitation of the government.)
Tensions between Moscow and Ankara have also resulted in jostling at sea. On Monday, a Russian frigate operating in the eastern Mediterranean said it fired warning shots at a Turkish fishing boat that had sailed too close. Russia has also detained at least eight Turkish commercial boats for “inspection,” while Turkey said this week it had detained 27 Russian craft.
Mr. Putin made plain again on Thursday that he was personally offended by the way the Turkish government handled the Su-24 incident. He said that if it had been an accident, he would have expected a phone call from the Turkish leadership explaining what had happened; instead, he noted, Ankara called immediately for an emergency meeting of the NATO military alliance.
The Russian President’s fury was such that he descended toward the obscene while discussing relations with Turkey. At one point he speculated that Turkey may have shot down the Russian jet at the behest of the United States, perhaps in exchange for the U.S. turning a blind eye to a recent Turkish military deployment in northern Iraq. “Maybe someone in the Turkish leadership decided to lick the Americans in a particular place,” Mr. Putin said to applause.
He also said relations with Turkey had been good right up until Nov. 24 and that “the Turkish leadership” even approached him during last month’s G20 summit in Antalya with a “delicate” request that Mr. Putin said was outside the boundaries of international law. He did not specify what was asked but said Russia had been ready to help.
No longer. “It is very difficult to achieve understanding with the leadership of Turkey. Again they backstabbed us. So on the interstate level, I see no prospect of Russian-Turkish relations improving. There is no chance.”
Suat Kiniklioglu, a former MP in Mr. Erdogan’s AKP party who is now a critic of the government, says he believes Mr. Erdogan “miscalculated” in ordering the shooting down of the Russian jet.
“Had [Mr. Erdogan] known the consequences would be as dramatic as they are now, I don’t think he would have gone for it,” Mr. Kiniklioglu said in an interview in Ankara. “He thought he was really good buddies with Putin. He respects Putin a lot and likes the way he challenges the West and the international order. He now understands Putin didn’t give a damn about all of that and he only cares about Russia’s national interests.”
Mr. Erdogan has himself favoured anti-Western rhetoric in recent years, Mr. Kiniklioglu said, but when Russia responded angrily to the downing of the Su-24, “he suddenly remembered he’s a NATO member and he made a full U-turn.”
Mr. Putin, who met Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, said he was supportive of a draft United Nations resolution that Mr. Kerry was preparing. It calls for a peace process that includes a new Syrian constitution and – eventually – elections.
“We support the U.S. initiative on Syria, as well as the proposed UN resolution. I think after reading the resolution project, the Syrian government will be content as well,” Mr. Putin said.
In the meantime, however, he said Russia would continue its war effort in support of Mr. Assad. “We will continue our air strikes as long as the Syrian army continues to fight.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/putin-dares-turkey-to-test-russias-air-defences-in-syria/article27799731/
Mark MacKinnon
ANKARA — The Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 7:26AM EST
Last updated Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 9:36AM EST
Russian President Vladimir Putin again raised the stakes Thursday in his country’s conflict with Turkey, using a press conference to dare the Turkish Air Force to try flying in Syrian airspace now that Russia has deployed sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles in the region.
Relations between Russia and Turkey – and specifically between Mr. Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – have been hostile since a Nov. 24 incident that saw a Turkish fighter jet shoot down a Russian Su-24 warplane that Ankara says briefly entered its airspace. One of the two pilots was shot dead by Syrian rebels as he parachuted to the ground, while the other survived and was rescued.
While both Russia and Turkey claim to be taking part in the fight to destroy the so-called Islamic State, their other aims in Syria are at loggerheads. Ankara has aided any and all groups that share its goal of toppling President Bashar al-Assad. Moscow, meanwhile, intervened in the conflict this fall to keep Mr. Assad’s regime from collapsing.
Moscow has responded to the incident – which Mr. Putin called a “backstabbing” – with a host of measures, including a ban on many Turkish goods, the cancellation of Russian tourist packages to Turkey, an end to visa-free entry to Russia for Turkish passport holders and a refusal to meet or speak with Turkey’s leadership.
On the military front, Russia has dispatched more warplanes to its airbase in the northwestern Syrian city of Latakia, where it has also deployed its most sophisticated anti-aircraft system, the S-400 mobile multiple-launch battery. The S-400 has a range of 400 kilometres, meaning that from Latakia it can hit targets over most of Syria, as well as over Cyprus and much of southern Turkey.
Russia has also deployed additional warships to the eastern Mediterranean and has provided new anti-aircraft systems to the Syrian army.
“We think the actions of the Turkish leadership toward our plane that was shot down were not just unfriendly, it was a hostile action – an act of enmity,” Mr. Putin told his annual year-end news conference in Moscow.
“Did they really think we would flee after the incident? That we would remove all our forces?” he continued. “Russia is not a country that withdraws or shies away from the challenge. On the contrary, we increased our military presence, we increased the number of our aircraft, we increased our anti-aircraft missiles, etc. Before that, the Turkish Air Force was flying over Syria. Well, I invite them to try flying over Syria now, because they will get a very serious response.”
Turkey appears to have already been avoiding Syrian airspace since the incident. Turkish media have reported that the country’s warplanes have stopped taking part in a U.S.-led campaign of air strikes against IS out of concern that Russian or Syrian forces would try to shoot down a Turkish jet in retaliation for the downing of the Su-24. (Russian jets, unlike planes from the U.S.-led coalition, are flying over Syria at the invitation of the government.)
Tensions between Moscow and Ankara have also resulted in jostling at sea. On Monday, a Russian frigate operating in the eastern Mediterranean said it fired warning shots at a Turkish fishing boat that had sailed too close. Russia has also detained at least eight Turkish commercial boats for “inspection,” while Turkey said this week it had detained 27 Russian craft.
Mr. Putin made plain again on Thursday that he was personally offended by the way the Turkish government handled the Su-24 incident. He said that if it had been an accident, he would have expected a phone call from the Turkish leadership explaining what had happened; instead, he noted, Ankara called immediately for an emergency meeting of the NATO military alliance.
The Russian President’s fury was such that he descended toward the obscene while discussing relations with Turkey. At one point he speculated that Turkey may have shot down the Russian jet at the behest of the United States, perhaps in exchange for the U.S. turning a blind eye to a recent Turkish military deployment in northern Iraq. “Maybe someone in the Turkish leadership decided to lick the Americans in a particular place,” Mr. Putin said to applause.
He also said relations with Turkey had been good right up until Nov. 24 and that “the Turkish leadership” even approached him during last month’s G20 summit in Antalya with a “delicate” request that Mr. Putin said was outside the boundaries of international law. He did not specify what was asked but said Russia had been ready to help.
No longer. “It is very difficult to achieve understanding with the leadership of Turkey. Again they backstabbed us. So on the interstate level, I see no prospect of Russian-Turkish relations improving. There is no chance.”
Suat Kiniklioglu, a former MP in Mr. Erdogan’s AKP party who is now a critic of the government, says he believes Mr. Erdogan “miscalculated” in ordering the shooting down of the Russian jet.
“Had [Mr. Erdogan] known the consequences would be as dramatic as they are now, I don’t think he would have gone for it,” Mr. Kiniklioglu said in an interview in Ankara. “He thought he was really good buddies with Putin. He respects Putin a lot and likes the way he challenges the West and the international order. He now understands Putin didn’t give a damn about all of that and he only cares about Russia’s national interests.”
Mr. Erdogan has himself favoured anti-Western rhetoric in recent years, Mr. Kiniklioglu said, but when Russia responded angrily to the downing of the Su-24, “he suddenly remembered he’s a NATO member and he made a full U-turn.”
Mr. Putin, who met Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, said he was supportive of a draft United Nations resolution that Mr. Kerry was preparing. It calls for a peace process that includes a new Syrian constitution and – eventually – elections.
“We support the U.S. initiative on Syria, as well as the proposed UN resolution. I think after reading the resolution project, the Syrian government will be content as well,” Mr. Putin said.
In the meantime, however, he said Russia would continue its war effort in support of Mr. Assad. “We will continue our air strikes as long as the Syrian army continues to fight.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/putin-dares-turkey-to-test-russias-air-defences-in-syria/article27799731/
Today at 5:24 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 3/26/24 Iraqi Dinar - IQD Update - Strength Dinar - Automation ASYCUDA - World Bank - D
Today at 5:21 am by Rocky
» Amending the Health Professions Law “robs” scientists of the central appointment 3 years after it wa
Today at 5:20 am by Rocky
» Is the “blessings package” that Erbil paid to the citizens of Kurdistan related to the elections?
Today at 5:19 am by Rocky
» Exceeded 5,000 projects.. Allocating 10 trillion dinars to support governorate reconstruction plans
Today at 5:18 am by Rocky
» “His need no longer exists.” Parliamentary Finance confirms the necessity of returning the retiremen
Today at 5:17 am by Rocky
» To communicate with the bases... 12 directives from Al-Sadr, including blocking numbers for non-gove
Today at 5:15 am by Rocky
» In an interview with "Baghdad Today"... an Iranian researcher reveals the importance of Haniyeh's vi
Today at 5:14 am by Rocky
» After it was 63 trillion in 2023... the 2024 budget deficit will rise to 80 trillion dinars
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Parliament reveals the date of the first evaluation of the governors and determines the party respon
Today at 5:11 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic informs Al-Araji and Al-Basri: Momentum must be mobilized to eliminate
Today at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Can the Federal Court sue others? A legal clarification of its response mechanism to abuse
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Despite promises to soon stop burning gas.. What is the secret behind Iraq renewing the Iranian gas
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Advisor to Al-Sudani: The dollar is on the way to further decline, and 70% of Iraqi traders have ent
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Iraq exported more than 99 million barrels of oil last February
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Barzani “gives good news” to Kurdistan employees: salaries, land, and loan exemptions
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Alia Nassif: Nour Zuhair returned to the port of Umm Qasr to make deals.. An influential Shiite forc
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister announces the movement of nearly 500 stalled projects
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» A government strategy to enhance investments.. Iraq is on the verge of a new era of economic develop
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Ranging between 20% and 50%.. The Kurdistan government decides to reduce service fees, customs dutie
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The reform approach in the security services is an integral part of reform in other secto
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Everyone in Iraq wants the Sudanese visit to Washington to be successful, even the factions!
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Sources and experts expect the agenda.. in his bag is the Baghdad dollar and the factions’ truce, bu
Today at 4:54 am by Rocky
» The decision to raise gasoline prices arouses the ire of drivers...a reminder of the large demonstra
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary services: 3 important hospitals in Baghdad will enter service at the end of the year
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Iraq signs a contract to supply Iranian gas for a period of five years
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Parliament adds a voting paragraph on amending the Penal Code to its agenda
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» His political advisor: We are not afraid of Sudanese entering the elections alone
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary services explain the reasons for the rise in real estate prices in Baghdad
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Attia, criticizing the government's decisions: "The citizen's feathers will be ruffled without servi
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Communications: Zain Iraq and Asiacell did not pay their debts
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» The Governor of Karbala announces the imminent establishment of the largest industrial city in the c
Today at 4:43 am by Rocky
» A government determination to end the issue of displaced persons in the middle of this year
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Iraq buys gas from Kurdistan to generate electricity
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary signatures to include an amendment to the internal regulations to decide the choice of
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» In Basra.. a demonstration against foreign workers in Iraqi companies (video)
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Al-Samarrai: Presidency of Parliament is an entitlement to the constituents, and calling it a “frame
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Electronic food supplies in 6 governorates... covering 11 million Iraqis and “writing off” about 700
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Corruption of the Ministry of Transport.. Representatives express their surprise at the minister’s s
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» The biggest supporter of the invasion of Iraq.. The death of former US Senator Joe Lieberman
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Iraq is ranked “late.” A list of the most and least safe Arab countries for women
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers exempts the Gulf Interconnection Authority from guarantee fees: it is a gov
Yesterday at 7:48 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government raises the size of the 2024 budget, and Parliament is “surprised”
Yesterday at 7:46 am by Rocky
» Popular Movement: We have many economic options away from American hegemony
Yesterday at 7:42 am by Rocky
» The Oil Parliament stresses the need to transfer part of the revenues to the producing governorates
Yesterday at 7:41 am by Rocky
» It will cover 14 regions in eastern Iraq.. A deputy reveals the “border electricity” project
Yesterday at 7:40 am by Rocky
» Experts Warn Mass Migration Threatens US Food Security
Yesterday at 7:37 am by Bama Diva
» Al-Fateh: America occupies Iraq through agreements
Yesterday at 7:37 am by Rocky
» Anger in Iraq over a "sudden decision"... and a reminder of a "general strike" that paralyzed the co
Yesterday at 7:34 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Committee: Parliament is discussing today a decision that “disturbed” the Iraqis
Yesterday at 7:33 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Electricity: Our production will reach 27 thousand megawatts by May
Yesterday at 7:31 am by Rocky
» Diagnosing the “most important” problems in the oil file between Baghdad and Erbil.. What is the rel
Yesterday at 7:30 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Fiqh Academy and the Sunni Endowment issue a fatwa to pay Zakat al-Fitr
Yesterday at 7:28 am by Rocky
» The National Bank of Iraq continues its digital transformation by launching its new banking system a
Yesterday at 7:26 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Investment and the Central Bank are discussing the housing initiative
Yesterday at 7:25 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister announces the restart of 500 suspended projects
Yesterday at 7:23 am by Rocky
» Al-Barti assesses the region's employees: Your salaries are insured and will be paid after resettlem
Yesterday at 7:21 am by Rocky
» Iraqi-American discussions in anticipation of the Sudanese visit
Yesterday at 7:20 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Turkey hold meetings in Ankara to discuss technical issues related to the development road
Yesterday at 7:17 am by Rocky
» A government parliamentary agreement to support budget revenues and governorate allocations for inve
Yesterday at 7:16 am by Rocky
» Oil: The gas sector is witnessing great development
Yesterday at 7:15 am by Rocky
» A Kurdish-French agreement to develop trade and economic relations
Yesterday at 7:13 am by Rocky
» Exchange companies in Mosul demand that they be entered into the currency selling window
Yesterday at 7:12 am by Rocky
» Minister of Finance to the Czech Ambassador: Iraq enjoys a more attractive business environment and
Yesterday at 7:10 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Britain sign an agreement in the field of the stock market
Yesterday at 7:08 am by Rocky
» A new parliamentary meeting with the Minister of Finance to discuss these files
Yesterday at 7:07 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary committee discusses these files with the Director of the Projects Department in the
Yesterday at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Central Bank sales exceed $257 million today
Yesterday at 7:05 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance and the Minister of Planning discuss governorate allocations and investment bu
Yesterday at 7:04 am by Rocky
» Planning: We are discussing with representatives of the World Bank the work plan of the Social Fund
Yesterday at 7:02 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary meeting with the Governor of the Central Bank and the Director of the Real Estate Bank
Yesterday at 7:01 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: The 2024 budget reached 228 trillion dinars
Yesterday at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Barzani "gives good news" to Kurdistan's employees: salaries, land, and loan exemptions
Yesterday at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Economy: The decision to raise fuel prices targets this class
Yesterday at 6:54 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic: Iraq is an important investment environment
Yesterday at 6:53 am by Rocky
» From the accounts of Saddam's Republican Guard... Iraq returns approximately 7 billion dinars to the
Yesterday at 6:52 am by Rocky
» Al-Abadi: Muqtada al-Sadr did not leave politics.. He reached a dead end
Yesterday at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Nassif: The leaders of the framework abandoned Al-Sudani because of his recent successes
Yesterday at 6:48 am by Rocky
» Baghdad stresses the continued danger of ISIS and the importance of Washington's efforts to combat i
Yesterday at 6:47 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Oil: It is necessary to transfer part of the revenues to the oil-producing governorate
Yesterday at 6:45 am by Rocky
» The Sudanese government zeroes in on the legacy of its predecessors
Yesterday at 5:28 am by Rocky
» The Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation Law is ready for its second reading
Yesterday at 5:26 am by Rocky
» 1,500 active civil organizations in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:25 am by Rocky
» The position of Speaker of Parliament awaits decision
Yesterday at 5:23 am by Rocky
» Water for peace...the water crisis in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:21 am by Rocky
» Fiscal and monetary policies succeed in undermining the parallel dollar
Yesterday at 5:20 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan.. Attempts to circumvent the "Federal" decision and an invitation to the Baghdad governmen
Yesterday at 5:17 am by Rocky
» “Iraq warned the US Treasury to leave the dollar.” Parliamentary Finance: The exchange rate will con
Yesterday at 5:16 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government issues new decisions
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» Barzani: We will not give up our constitutional rights, and tomorrow we will take a decision that is
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» A researcher in political and security affairs describes the decision to increase the price of gasol
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers addresses the Finance Ministry to appoint the families of those who died du
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» 100 thousand dinars as a “Eid gift” for retirees.. A parliamentary request before the Sudanese (docu
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani confirms that more than 490 projects have been moved and returned to work in record time
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Parliament reveals three facts about the decision to raise the price of fuel: It targeted “luxury” w
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» In detail...the problems of the oil file between Baghdad and Erbil
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» International skepticism about Iraqi agriculture... Modern irrigation succeeds, but it will not be e
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» For those who love traveling by the Iraqi train... buy the ticket with your mobile phone and 50 new
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Regional and international challenges hinder the path of the Iraqi economy towards stability
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky