Erdogan threatens: Russia risks losing Turkey's friendship
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Russia could lose a lot if it loses a friend like Turkey, Reuters reports. Erdogan announced this against the backdrop of an incident with Russian aviation violating the country’s airspace and Moscow’s intervention in the conflict in Syria on the side of Assad, who is not supported by Ankara.
Subscribe to PolitNavigator – Kyiv news on Facebook , Odnoklassniki , or VKontakte
Erdogan emphasized that the violation of Turkish airspace will not go unanswered. "An attack on Turkey is an attack on NATO," he said at a press conference in Brussels.
On October 3, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, a Russian military aircraft violated the country’s airspace in the Yayladyghi region of Hatay province, not far from the Syrian-Turkish border.
Two Turkish Air Force F-16 fighters were sent to intercept the plane.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense first announced the discovery of a MiG-29 and that it had captured Turkish fighters for escort, but then clarified the type of intruder fighter: it was a Russian Su-30, which quickly left Turkish airspace.
The Russian Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defense recognized this violation.
On October 4, Erdogan called Russia’s military actions in Syria erroneous.
Erdogan threatens : Russia risks losing Turkey's friendship