A Russian warplane violated Turkish airspace near the Syrian border, prompting the Air Force to scramble two F-16 jets to intercept it, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
The Foreign Ministry summoned Moscow’s ambassador to protest the violation, according to an e-mailed statement. Turkey urged Russia to avoid repeating such a violation, or it would be held “responsible for any undesired incident that may occur”.
Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, as well as key Nato partners, the statement said.
Meanwhile later yesterday Nato denounced the Russian incursion into Turkish air space and Ankara threatened to respond if provoked again, raising the prospect of direct confrontation between the Cold War enemies. Nato held an emergency meeting of ambassadors of its 28 member states to respond to what Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called “unacceptable violations of Turkish airspace”.
Russia will be held responsible for any undesired incident
Nato members “strongly protest” and “condemn” incursions into Turkish and Nato territory, the alliance said.
“Allies also note the extreme danger of such irresponsible behaviour. They call on the Russian Federation to cease and desist, and immediately explain these violations,” it said after the meeting in Brussels yesterday.
The Russian Defence Ministry admitted that an SU-30 fighter aircraft had entered Turkish air space along the border with Syria “for a few seconds”. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said earlier he had been told by Russia that the violation was a “mistake” that would not happen again.
“Turkey’s rules of engagement apply to all planes, be they Syrian, Russian or from elsewhere. Necessary steps would be taken against whoever violates Turkey’s borders, even if it’s a bird,” he said.
Moscow’s move involving air strikes in Syria has brought the greatest threat of an accidental clash between Russian and Western forces since the Cold War. A senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington doubted such incursions were an accident.