Putin demands escort of Russia fighter jets for visit to Turkiye, causing further potential delays

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is reportedly demanding an escort of fighter jets for an upcoming visit to Turkiye, seeming to explain the postponement of several official visits due to the complex nature of such demands.

According to the news outlet, Middle East Eye, unnamed sources informed it that Russian President Putin is aiming to fly to Turkiye accompanied by an escort of Russian fighter jets, potentially over concerns regarding Ukraine’s ability to shoot down aircraft en route.

Such a demand is said to be a complex matter, however, as Russian fighter jets entering Turkish air space – and possibly to land them in Turkish territory – may trigger NATO air defence systems due to them perceiving the aircraft as enemy targets or threats.

According to one source familiar with the talks, Turkiye is not likely to shut NATO defence systems down to accommodate Russia’s request, but so far those demands have reportedly been the primary reason for the delays in Putin’s plans to visit Ankara over the past decade, with his last visit having been in 2014.

The Russian President is expected to arrive in the first week of October, Russian and Turkish officials have been cited as saying, but there are likely to be further complications to the schedule due to the ‘unusual’ request by Moscow.

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