NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg calls for calm and contacts between Moscow and Ankara after NATO member Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border. Photo: EPA
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https://scmp.com/news/world/article/1883402/putin-sends-state-art-missile-system-russian-air-base-syria-50km-turkish World
Putin sends state-of-the-art missile system to Russian air base in Syria, 50km from Turkish border
Defiant move from Putin increases threat of confrontation in region
Russian President Vladimir Putin the UralVagonZavod factory in the Ural mountains, Russia on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday ordered state-of-the art air defence missile systems to be deployed at a Russian air base in Syria following the downing of a Russian warplane by Turkey, a move that raised the threat of a military confrontation between the Nato member and Russia.
The S-400 missile systems, which will be sent to the Hemeimeem air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia, located just about 50km south of the border with Turkey, are capable of targeting Turkish jets with deadly precision. If Russia shot down a Turkish plane, Nato would be required to intervene.
Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber on Tuesday, saying it crossed into its airspace from Syria despite repeated warnings. One of its two pilots was killed by militants after bailing out, while his crewmate was rescued by Syrian army commandos and delivered in good condition to the Russian base.
Putin, who said the Russian plane remained in Syria's skies when it was shot down, ordered the military to deploy the S-400s to Hemeimeem and took other measures that "should be sufficient to ensure flight safety".
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the Russian missile cruiser Moskva had moved closer to shore to protect the Russian aircraft flying missions near Syria's border with Turkey with its long-range Fort air defence system.
Shoigu also said that from now on all Russian bombers would be escorted by fighters on their combat missions in Syria. He said that his ministry had severed all contacts with the Turkish military.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who cancelled his trip to Turkey after the incident, described the shooting down of the Russian plane as a "planned provocation".
He said the Turkish action came after Russian planes successfully targeted the oil infrastructure used by Islamic State, alleging that Turkey benefited from the oil trade. Lavrov also said Turkish territory was used by "terrorists" to prepare terror attacks in other countries, but offered no details.
He said that Russia "has no intention to go to war with Turkey," but added that Moscow would reconsider its ties with Ankara.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has already warned Russians against travelling to Turkey, and some leading Russian tourist agencies suspended the sales of tour packages to Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country did not wish to escalate tensions with Russia over the downing of the plane.
Speaking at an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation economy meeting in Istanbul, Erdogan said that Turkey favoured "peace, dialogue and diplomacy". He defended his country's move to shoot down the plane, saying: "No one should expect Turkey to stay silent to border violations or the violation of its rights."
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also sought to ease tensions, saying Russia was Turkey's "friend and neighbour" and insisting relations could not be "sacrificed to accidents of communication".
Davutoglu told his party's lawmakers Turkey didn't know the plane's nationality until Moscow confirmed it was Russian.
He again defended Turkey's action, saying Russia was warned on several occasions that Turkey would take action in case its border was violated.
Davutoglu also said Russia was an "important partner and tops the list of countries with which we have shown great sensitivity in building ties".