Acid test of Putin’s policies & prestige

Amidst the rising terrorism of Islamic State the war has taken a new turn on Tuesday. Turkey gunned down a Russian fighter plane SU-24 near Syrian border on Tuesday. Turkey claims this Russian plane had entered its airspace and when it didn’t return despite several warnings our F-16 plane came into action and gunned it down. While denying it Russia said that neither were the pilots warned nor our fighter place entered the Turkish space, it was all time in Syrian air spaceThis was the first time that any alliance nation of NATO (Turkey) has gunned down any Russian plane. It is clear that there is tension between Russia and Turkey. Furious by the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin said this incident is like stabbing in the back. The incident could seriously affect the relations between Turkey and Russia. Putin said that the Russian plane was attacked within the area of Syria while it was one km away of the Turkish airspace. The plane fell down at four kms within Syrian area. Putin’s statement is just contrary to that of Turkey that before being gunned down it was warned several times that it was flying within Turkish airspace. Putin said this incident is just like stabbing in the back enacted by the associates of the terrorists. Our plane was gunned down by an airborne missile from an F-16 at the height of 6000 meters in Syrian airspace Putin said that the Russian pilots and planes didn’t cause any threat to Turkey. They were on their duty to fight with IS in Syria. He said about the funding to terrorists long ago we had proved that oil and oil products are in plenty in the  occupied areas which the Turks buy from ISIS and thereby helping ISIS. Turkish army claims that upon entering its airspace Russian plane was warned ten times within five minutes. Getting no response it was gunned down by two F-16 planes. The US forces have also confirmed it. The Turkish PM said that whosoever enters our airspace, we have the sole right to gun it down. The incident occurred days after when Turkey had called the Russian Ambassador and warned Russia about the serious consequences if the Russian air force doesn’t stop bombing Turkmens villages. However, after the incident both the nations have indicated that they don’t want to take this issue further and augment a war between them. But people knowing Putin believe that he will take  revenge against this insult. In fact, this incident has heavily shocked Russia. A small country like Turkey has begun to challenge Russia. It has shocked the prestige of Russia. Another angle to the incident is that a US plane (F-16) has gunned down a modern Russian fighter plane (SU-24) which will adversely affect  the Russian military weapons market. Thirdly, danger is now Russia and NATO nations have come face to face. NATO has 28 member nations. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Russia have come to loggerheads after decades. According to some experts this incident also indicates the ego of the nations fighting in Syria. From the very beginning, the western countries are objecting the Russian air attacks in Syria. In fact, the US and its alliance say that Syria will not be normal without displacing the President Assad. It wants to finish Assad. While Moscow stands for full support to Assad. Therefore, it is being alleged that it is bombing over Assad rebels instead of the IS. When Turkey gunned down the Russian plane it was shown in pictures that the fighter jet exploded in the air. This area is apart from the IS, occupied by the rebellion groups. It includes Al Qaida branch Nusra Front also. Both the pilots of the plane are shown ejecting in the pictures. A deputy commander of rebellion Turkmen forces says that its fighters have shot both the pilots. However, the future of the pilots is not clear yet. Over all, the situation is very tense. Anything could happen. I had written earlier in this column that the war between Assad versus the IS seems to turn into Russia versus the US and the NATO now.

-Anil Narendra