NATO will be holding “urgent” meetings today to deal with
the problems that arose when Syria shot down a Turkish plane last Friday.
Turkey is invoking “NATO’s Article Four” according to VOA presses. According to
Yale Law’s website, NATO’s Article Four requires the meeting of all NATO
parties to determine if, “in the opinion of any member”, there is a “territorial
integrity, political independence, or security” threat.
The plane shot down last Friday was a Turkish F-4
reconnaissance jet flying in Syrian airspace. According to Reuters website, “Damascus
described its shooting down of the F-4 jet on Friday as an act of self-defense.”
While sending a second military transport plane into Syrian airspace to search
for the wreckage of the shot-down F-4, the Syrian government fired on the
second plane. The second plane remained airborne but Turkey stated “This kind
of action [called harassing fire by officials] will not remain unpunished.” The
second plane had no reported injuries to anyone on board.
Although both countries strongly oppose the idea of going to
war Turkish officials states “Whatever is needed to be done will definitely be
done within the framework of international law.” Turkey then cited NATO’s Article
Four to determine if the actions of both parties constitute a direct threat to
either nation.
According to VOA presses, the most likely response from NATO
will involve sanctions on Syria and a plea to Turkey to remain “restrained in
its response.” It is unlikely China and Russia would agree to authorize the use
of force during the U.N. Security Council today but any military response could
trigger a regional conflict with many nations, including Iran, Saudi Arabia,
and Israel.
