Russia: Turkey Alleges Jet Violated Airspace

January 30, 2016 | 16:48 GMT

The Turkish government alleges that a Russian Su-34 jet violated Turkish airspace Jan. 29 despite numerous warnings in English and Russian, according to a Jan. 30 Turkish Foreign Ministry statement, Dogan News Agency reported. The Russian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the alleged violation. The Russian embassy confirmed that the ambassador had been summoned. On Nov. 24, A Russian Su-24 fighter jet was shot down near the Turkish-Syrian border, sparking a diplomatic row between Moscow and Ankara. Competition between Turkey and Russia has been growing on multiple fronts because of Turkey's position as gatekeeper to the Mediterranean from the Black Sea and its role in NATO. For months, Russia has been conducting airstrikes in support of the government of President Bashar al Assad, challenging Turkey's ambitions to bring Sunni power back to Syria through the toppling of this government.