NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged “calm and de-escalation” of tensions between Moscow and Ankara.

Turkey issues warning to Russia, claiming airspace violation

By Suzan Fraser 

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Moscow on Saturday that it would be forced to “endure the consequences” if its jets continue to violate Turkish airspace, after Ankara reported a new border infringement incident by a Russian plane.

NATO-member Turkey said another Russian warplane violated its airspace on Friday despite several warnings — two months after Turkey’s military shot down a Russian jet for crossing over its territory. The past incident seriously strained the previously close ties between the two countries, damaging a strong economic partnership.

“We regard this infringement which came despite all our warnings in Russian and in English as an effort by Russia to escalate the crisis in the region,” Erdogan told reporters before departing on a Latin American tour. “If Russia continues the violations of Turkey’s sovereign rights, it will be forced to endure the consequences.”

He did not specify what those consequences might be.

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