yeah an obvious typo - I meant since Russia has been supporting Assad in Syria, and Turkey is going into Syria. My error.
They actually do share a land boarder east of the Black Sea on the eastern side of Georgia - it isn’t long. However, I don’t think NATO is obligated if Turkey initiates action on their own.
I’m not sure how the Russian force order stands these days I’ve been meaning to update myself since I stopped paying attention in the late 90’s.
Hmmmm....also brings up the age-old question, if Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, would Greece help?
Thank you, I’ll be here all week....
The Turkish Land Forces have 315,000 men, large number of conscripts that serve one year terms. Their premier unit, the 3rd Corps, is a mechanized NATO Rapid Deployment unit. The Turks don't have too many commitments abroad so their troops are available for response to Russian aggression. I highly doubt that the Russians could scrounge together enough men to take Istanbul and the Bosporus. Attacking Turkey would also mean Russian trade from the Black Sea would be cut off, eliminating the utility of taking the Crimea in the first place. If Putin were to go to war with the Turks, he would truly be a madman.