“Does Russia have a dog in this fight?”
I think Russia has been at odds with Turkey and NATO for generations. With thee present abdication of the United States and our betrayal of our traditional allies, Russia sees an historic opportunity to become a major player in the Mediterranean; previously an American lake. Russia’s risk with Turkey is zero for a number of reasons. Turkey has overextended itself rhetoric-wise, by taking on too many adversaries and advocating too many new positions. Russia will form meaningful long-term relationships which will be to their long-term military and commercial good. Can a Russian military base in Cypress be far behind? What about permanent port rights in Cypress, Greece and Israel? Using the collapse of Egypt and the threat of an erratic and unpredictable American president threatening the world’s peace, Russia is advancing its interests with little risk. Can you imagine NATO coming to Turkey’s aid if ships clash in the Mediterranean? I can’t see it even if they wanted to. Libya has both drained them and exposed how weak they really are.
When the United States tries to re-exert itself under a new president it will find itself stymied at every turn by new political and economic realities.
>>>>>>>>>>I think Russia has been at odds with Turkey and NATO for generations.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In fact pushing around Turkey right now is a nice way to project power for them the way they did in 2008 in Georgia.
They teached the World on NATO raping their candidate nation and nothing ever happened as a counter-reaction.
If they are to do something like that to Turkey, which is an actual NATO member, this time it will be a horror show for every new or future NATO member.
Considering such a perspective it is very important to note recent idiotic statements and actions by Turkish government which are obviously islamist in nature and anti Judeo-Christian. It makes a lot of room for a potential moral support Worldwide for any Russian provocations toward Turkey.
They may claim action in defence of Christians in Cyprus against a rogue Turkish state and it is very unlikely if any politician in the West will be able to do a thing to form a public opinion against Russians this time.