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I saw this as I was wandering around the interwebs today -
This will not end well for Turkey and their relationship with NATO and the EU... if it's even true.
Given the source (RT) it's possible that it's just a propaganda spin.
However, given that Erdogan has been crawling on his knees to Putin following his military shot down the Russian fighter/bomber, it's also possible, given that Obama told him as far as the US and NATO were concerned regarding Russia - YOYO (You're On Your Own). On one hand, I can see how the US wouldn't want to be dragged into an armed conflict with Russia over a shoot-down done by Turkey under questionable circumstances, yet on the other hand, they are a NATO alley, and we have a large and extremely important ongoing operation at Incirlik that is critical to our operations in that region of the world (and has been for decades), not just within Turkey as a NATO alley. Given the heated aggressive actions of Russia toward Ukraine, Georgia, the Baltic states and now the Balkans, I just can't see it as acceptable for the US or NATO to sit by and allow this to occur under current treaties and agreements. This may just be Erdogan's way of putting pressure on Obama and NATO to get what he wants from us? I can't tell yet. Either way, it's still a very high stakes gamble on the part of Erdogan.
Anyone heard anything else about this? I can't imagine that the US military would be happy having Russian forces on the same flight line with US assets. The security implications are immense.
This will not end well for Turkey and their relationship with NATO and the EU... if it's even true.
Given the source (RT) it's possible that it's just a propaganda spin.
However, given that Erdogan has been crawling on his knees to Putin following his military shot down the Russian fighter/bomber, it's also possible, given that Obama told him as far as the US and NATO were concerned regarding Russia - YOYO (You're On Your Own). On one hand, I can see how the US wouldn't want to be dragged into an armed conflict with Russia over a shoot-down done by Turkey under questionable circumstances, yet on the other hand, they are a NATO alley, and we have a large and extremely important ongoing operation at Incirlik that is critical to our operations in that region of the world (and has been for decades), not just within Turkey as a NATO alley. Given the heated aggressive actions of Russia toward Ukraine, Georgia, the Baltic states and now the Balkans, I just can't see it as acceptable for the US or NATO to sit by and allow this to occur under current treaties and agreements. This may just be Erdogan's way of putting pressure on Obama and NATO to get what he wants from us? I can't tell yet. Either way, it's still a very high stakes gamble on the part of Erdogan.
Anyone heard anything else about this? I can't imagine that the US military would be happy having Russian forces on the same flight line with US assets. The security implications are immense.
Ankara could let Russia use its Incirlik airbase to fight ISIS – Turkish FM
Published time: 4 Jul, 2016 07:36
Edited time: 4 Jul, 2016 08:13
The statement came from Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu during his interview with TRT channel.
The top diplomat has acknowledged that Moscow might be given the green light to use Turkey’s Incirlik airbase to engage Islamic State targets in Syria. As of now, Russian aircraft make their sorties from Khmeimim airbase in Syria’s Latakia province.
“We will cooperate with everybody who is fighting Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL),” Cavusoglu said, pointing out that “Ankara has opened the Incirlik airbase to all those wishing to join the active fight.”
“Why not cooperate with Russia in the same manner? Turkey is ready for such cooperation. Terrorism is our common enemy. Joint efforts are important to avoid negative incidents [among sides fighting ISIS],” the minister said.
[...]