Turkey is a member of NATO. Any attack by Russia on Turkey would be considered an attack on NATO.
This may have been NATO’s way of dealing with Putin. Back him into a box he dare not rip out of and force him to back down away from using his forces anywhere near Turkey.
But it is a dangerous gambit. Putin may not back down.
Several days ago another Russian jet violated Turkey’s air space and Turkey warned them to back off. Turkey is not a push over...they are very well armed, very well trained, and they will fight.
They have about 235 of the latest F-16 aircraft armed with the latest AIM-120 AMRAAM and IM-9 Sidewinder missiles. They also have their own AWASC aircraft. not to mention the availability of whatever US aircraft necessary from Incerlik Air BAse.
Since Obama took the reigns of US foreign policy, there has been a rift between NATO and the US that at least I could see.
NATO has been playing the Russians correctly in my view..Obama has been ignoring history and ignoring common sense and has taken a entirely confused and impotent road.
It is that weakness in the lines that has led to what you see today and it can only lead to two results, Capitulation to Russia to delay the inevitable or directly to the inevitable.