NATO’s chief is calling for calm on all sides after Turkey shot down the Russian warplane Tuesday. It’s the first time a NATO member has shot down a Russian warplane since the 1950s. Though NATO had been warning for months of a potential serious incident with Russia flying so close to member state Turkey’s airspace without coordinating arrangements in place.
Speaking after an emergency meeting of NATO ambassadors, the organization’s chief said it was time for cool headedness on all sides. The incident comes at an awkward time for Russia and NATO.
Russia and Western powers had also recently taken at least tentative steps toward working together on a political solution to the war in Syria. But the relationship remains fragile and will be put to the test if at any point Turkey invokes Article 5 of the NATO treaty requiring all to come to a member’s defense.
