NATO General Threatens "Consequences" For Turkey Buying Russian Air Defense System

Authored by Jason Ditz via AntiWar.com,

In looking to upgrade their air defense system, Turkey had a choice: buying the advanced Russian S-400 systems, or more expensive, US-made alternatives. Turkey chose to buy Russian, and NATO isn’t happy.

While NATO was initially just complaining the S-400 was incompatible with their own systems, top NATO General Petr Pavel told reporters this week that Turkey is likely to be punished by the alliance for not buying American.

“The principal of sovereignty obviously exists in acquisition of defense equipment, but the same way that nations are sovereign in making their decision, they are also sovereign in facing the consequences of that decision,” Pavel insisted.

Pavel dismissed reporter questions about the Turkish government’s recent anti-democracy moves, insisting nobody is perfect.

“When it comes to democratic deficits, show me one single nation that is perfect. No one is perfect,” Pavel said.

 

“No one challenges the role of Turkey as an important ally at the very difficult crossroads of challenges to the alliance.”

Apparently the same leeway does not apply for the question of buying American weapons.

The missile deal with Russia “is a clear sign that Turkey is disappointed in the U.S. and Europe,” said Konstantin Makienko, an analyst at the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a Moscow think-tank.

 

“But until the advance is paid and the assembly begins, we can’t be sure of anything.”

Russia’s S-400, and its predecessor the S-300, have been praised as advanced, cost-effective alternatives to American anti-aircraft systems.

The US is used to having a virtual monopoly on this market, by ensuring that no one buys Russian without facing some very public criticism.

Greek Coast Guard Fires At Turkish Freighter, 16 Bullet Holes Reported

A Turkish-flagged ship has comes under fire off the Greek island of Rhodes, according to Turkey"s Deniz news, citing the ship’s captain, Haluk Sami Kalkavan, who told CNN TURK there were at least 16 bullet holes on board, although no injuries have been reported.

Son dakika... Yunan Sahil Güvenli?i"nden Türk gemisine uyar? ate?i

More details from CNN Turk, google translated:

According to the Deniz News Agency, the Greek Coast Guard boats from Iskenderun to the Gulf of Izmit have armed attack on the Turkish flagged M / V ACT named freighter. It was fired by Greek SSI boats on the island of Rhodes on the Turkish flagged dry dock named M / V ACT, which has a capacity of 4300 DWT carrying capacity towards the Izmit Gulf with the load it has loaded from ?skenderun.

M / V ACT named load cargo going to Izmit Gulf after ?skenderun"s iron steel load, Greek Coast Guard boats in international waters on the outskirts of Rhodes are required to dock to Greek Harbor but the captain can not comply with this directive. he gave. While heading to Turkish territorial waters, the Greek Coast Guard M / V ACT carried out a military attack on the named freighter.

"There are 16 holes on board"

Sami Kalkavan, the captain of the island told CNN TURK. Kalkavan said, "Coast guard wanted immediate withdrawal of the ship from Port of Lodos, we did not accept it. They wanted to check, we did not accept it. They told us they would shoot if we did not stop. They did it. Now there are 16 holes in the ship. There"s no danger of water getting in the ship, but we"ve done a great deal of danger. These were all good things about us, "" he said.

Turkey"s NTV adds that the Turkish Foreign Ministry is “in contact with relevant institutions” over the incident.

While it is unclear yet if this is the start of another major diplomatic incident between the volatile neighbors, NTV also adds that there are now 2 Turkish coast guard vessels off Rhodes following the incident.

President of Finland: Putin Not So Bad, NATO Lame, Greatest Threats To Europe Are Terrorism And Migration

The President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö made it clear to CNBC last week that while Russia"s actions involving Crimea must come to a peaceful resolution, the most important issues facing Europe right now are terrorism and migration. Despite Finland pledging $55 Million Euros to NATO, Niinistö also made it clear that European nations need to ultimately be responsible for their own security.

I think that Europeans start to understand that they have to take more responsibility of their own security, in spite of the fact that they are members of NATO.

We still have conscription... ...if we call our trained reserves, we have a bigger army than Germany, even though we are some 15 times smaller.

Is the greatest threat to Europe Vladimir Putin?

No, it"s a combination of terrorism and migration. And also, Russia  - what happened to Crimea in Ukraine. In the Western parts of the union, people are more shocked with terrorism and migration, and in the Eastern parts, it"s Russia.

Crimea is about the flow of energy into Europe, not some humanitarian crisis - though Putin might want to send some more love their way if he"s going to keep them.

  

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