Russia is categorically opposed to the Turkeys installation of Patriot anti-aircraftmissiles along its border with Syria.Most have assumed that the Moscow's opposition was driven by its friendship with embattled Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad.
But Russian military experts tell Kommersant that Moscow is actually concerned that themissileswill be used in military action against Iran.
In spite of the fact that the planned location of the missiles is relatively far from theIranianborder, they could be easily deployed to any place in Turkey, and be used against Iranian rockets.
The experts Kommersant spoke with said that having the Patriot missiles in Turkey seriously increases the risk of armed conflict with Iran, which would not be able to strike back if the Patriot missiles are deployed.
Turkeyhas explained its request toNATOto put the Patriot missiles on its border with Syria as exclusively related to its need to defend itself from a possible attack from the Syrian army.
"But according to our information, there could be a second motivation for this actions, which is a preparation for military action against Iran, said one diplomatic source in Moscow.
Russia has reacted extremely negatively to Turkeys plans to install the Patriot missiles. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that this increases the risk of military conflict, and evoked Chekhovs gun syndrome:if there is a gun on the stage in the first act, then it will be shot in the third act.
Western countries have reacted extremely skeptically toRussiasconcern. NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen called it baseless, and Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkeys self-defense plans was none of Russias business.
By Business Insider
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