The downing of a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 is awkward timing. Signs of a rapprochement in tensions between the West and Russia looked like genuine cooperation was underway in Syria. Russia had stepped up hits directed at ISIS and related infrastructure, and Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered the Russian navy to treat France like an ‘ally’ in Syria following the Paris attacks. Further conflict escalation relating to disagreements peripheral to the Syria crisis is in no one’s interests, as highlighted by NATO Secretary General’s call for ‘diplomacy and de-escalation’ as important to resolving the situation.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg …read more
Turkey’s downing of Russian plane: Russia was warned but Turkey may have over-reacted
