ASHLEY MORALES – The relationship between Russia and Turkey has been severely strained ever since Turkish fighters shot down a Russian plane that entered Turkey.[1] Turkey has accused Russia of violating its airspace for the second time over the past few months.[2] Russia is accused of having violated the airspace despite warnings from Turkish air radar units in both Russian and English.[3] Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has viewed this violation as an example of “escalatory behavior.”[4] The Foreign Ministry has threatened consequences if the violations continue.[5]
Russia has completely denied the allegations, calling them “proofless propaganda.”[6] The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogen commented that “such irresponsible steps” would not benefit the Russian Federation, Russian-NATO relations, or regional or global peace.[7] Erdogen would like to meet with Vladmir Putin to discuss relations, but his requests have been in vain.[8] Turkey’s embassy in Russia has informed Erdogen that there has been no response from Russia regarding any type of meeting to discuss relations.[9]
Russia and Turkey are both invested in opposite sides of the Syrian conflict.[10] Sitting on opposite sides of the conflict has caused tensions to boil between the two countries. The tensions escalated when Turkey shot down a Russian bomber; this was the first time a NATO country had shot down a Russian plane in half a century.[11] Many consider the relations between Turkey and Russia to have hit a new Post-Cold War low.[12]
NATO made comments regarding the events around the alleged sighting of a Russian plane that violated Turkish airspace stating that Russia should “fully respect NATO airspace.”[13] NATO head Jens Stoltenberg advised Russia to take all necessary measures to ensure that such violations would not happen again.[14] Both countries were urged to follow a path of “calm and de-escalation.”[15] NATO chose to stand in solidarity with Turkey and called for Russia to take responsibility for its actions.[16]
There are clear dangers created when two countries with increasing tensions reach a serious low. Beliefs that Russia is engaging in escalatory and threatening behavior can lead these two countries into dangerous territory. It is important for Russia and Turkey to engage in talks regarding relations and to enter a period of de-escalation and peace. Hopefully, these two countries, sitting at opposite sides of the table, can reach a resolution.
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[1] Liam Stack, Turkey Accuses Russia of Again Violating Its Airspace, N.Y. Times, Jan. 30, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/world/middleeast/turkey-accuses-russia-of-again-violating-its-airspace.html?ref=world&_r=0.
[2] Id.
[3] Fulya Ozerkan, Turkey Accuses Russia of New Airspace Violation, Yahoo News, Jan. 30, 2016, http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-accuses-russia-airspace-violation-161901603.html.
[4] Liam Stack, Turkey Accuses Russia of Again Violating Its Airspace, N.Y. Times, Jan. 30, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/world/middleeast/turkey-accuses-russia-of-again-violating-its-airspace.html?ref=world&_r=0.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Fulya Ozerkan, Turkey Accuses Russia of New Airspace Violation, Yahoo News, Jan. 30, 2016, http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-accuses-russia-airspace-violation-161901603.html.
[8] Id.
[9] Turkey Accuses Russia of New Airspace Violation, Tensions Hit New Low, ABC News, Jan. 31, 2016, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-31/turkey-accuses-russia-of-new-airspace-violation/7127510.
[10] Liam Stack, Turkey Accuses Russia of Again Violating Its Airspace, N.Y. Times, Jan. 30, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/world/middleeast/turkey-accuses-russia-of-again-violating-its-airspace.html?ref=world&_r=0.
[11] Id.
[12] Fulya Ozerkan, Turkey Accuses Russia of New Airspace Violation, Yahoo News, Jan. 30, 2016, http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-accuses-russia-airspace-violation-161901603.html.
[13] Aruta Shiva Staff, NATO Warns Russia to ‘Fully Respect’ Turkish Airspace, Israel National News, Jan. 30, 2016, http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/207254#.Vq4nwjZ8XFI.
[14] Fulya Ozerkan, Turkey Accuses Russia of New Airspace Violation, Yahoo News, Jan. 30, 2016, http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-accuses-russia-airspace-violation-161901603.html.
[15] Liam Stack, Turkey Accuses Russia of Again Violating Its Airspace, N.Y. Times, Jan. 30, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/31/world/middleeast/turkey-accuses-russia-of-again-violating-its-airspace.html?ref=world&_r=0.
[16] Id.
