Turkey accused Russia of a “provocation” on Sunday after a serviceman on the deck of a Russian naval ship allegedly held a rocket launcher on his shoulder while the vessel passed through Istanbul.
Advertisement
During his State of the Nation Address on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin took another dig at Turkey, claiming that Allah punished Turkey’s leaders by making them lose their minds, the Express reported. “Besides Russia, Turkey has natural gas agreements with Iran, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Qatar, and Algeria”, he said, adding that in addition to natural gas, Turkey has oil deals with Iran and Saudi Arabia.
“We don’t have details but Russian Federation has asked to discuss the issue of Turkish action in Iraq and Syria”, a diplomat told Reuters.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that Ankara could find alternatives to Russian oil and gas, as bilateral tensions escalated over the downing of a Russian warplane. “The passages should be made in accordance with the worldwide agreements, whether it is a Russian ship or of another nationality, the rules have always been determined”, the foreign minister said as quoted by Hurriyet Daily.
The relationship between Ankara and Moscow is strained by Turkey since the launch of Russian fighter jets. Dating from 1936, the treaty gives Turkey control of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles – the waterways connecting the Black and Mediterraneans seas. The Turkish Government feels provoked – and has summoned the Russian Ambassador Andrej Karlow in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Advertisement
The Russian warship on which the soldier was seen holding the surface-to-air missile in a firing position passed through Istanbul’s Bosphorus en route to the Mediterranean Sea on the morning of December 6.
