Russian fighter jet request complicates Putin's planned trip to Türkiye

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned visit to Türkiye is facing delays due to his request for an escort of Russian fighter jets. 

This move, which could activate NATO air defences in Türkiye, has been reported by the UK-based Middle East Eye. Türkiye, a longstanding NATO member, navigates a complex relationship between its alliance commitments and its interactions with Russia, which has been increasingly isolated by NATO countries since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine over two years ago, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler acknowledged the challenges of maintaining a unified stance within the alliance in early July, emphasizing that differing views are expected among NATO members. Türkiye has positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict, supporting Ukraine's NATO aspirations while maintaining communication and energy ties with Moscow. Strategically located south of Ukraine, Türkiye controls access to the Black Sea through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, which prevents new warships from entering the area around Ukraine's southern coastline and Crimea.

In addition, Türkiye has provided Ukraine with Bayraktar TB2 drones, which gained significant prominence early in the conflict. Turkish manufacturer Baykar has also begun constructing a new facility in Ukraine, near Kyiv. According to an unnamed former Turkish ambassador, the Turkish government has the capability to deploy fighter jets to escort visiting heads of state, but it's uncommon for foreign leaders to request such an escort with their own country's aircraft. Another former ambassador mentioned that there is no clear policy regarding this request, leaving it somewhat ambiguous. 

Reports suggest that NATO air defences might detect the Russian fighter jets and classify them as potential threats. An anonymous source familiar with the discussions noted that Ankara is unlikely to deactivate NATO systems to accommodate this request. The visit is tentatively scheduled for early October, but the unresolved issue regarding the Russian fighter jets could complicate or delay the trip, as reported by Middle East Eye. Additionally, Russian officials have expressed concerns about the safety of Ankara’s largest hotels, which are operated by US-owned chains, for the Kremlin leader.