Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Russia might be allowed to use the Incirlik airbase to fight Daesh in the region.
"We will cooperate with everyone who fights Daesh. We have been doing this for quite a while, and we opened Incirlik base for those who want to fight terrorists. Why not cooperate with Russia as well on these terms? Daesh is our common enemy, and we need to fight this enemy," Sputnik cited him as saying.
The airbase currently hosts aircraft of the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Qatar involved in the US-led air campaign against Daesh, which is outlawed in several states, including Russia.
The President of the National Strategy Institute, Mikhail Remizov, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, commented on the possible deployment of Russian troops at the Incirlik airbase.
The expert noted that "Russia has already built a certain logistics to ensure its operation in Syria, to support the contingent deployed there."
"It is hard to say from a technical point of view how critical the role of the Turkish air base in this logistics can be, but, judging by the fact that the operation was carried out without it, it was not necessary," he pointed out.
"But, of course, it is a significant symbolic gesture; moreover, it is a gesture, which is clearly addressed not only to Moscow, but also to Washington. The cooling degree in relations between Ankara and Washington is comparable to relations between Moscow and Ankara earlier," Remizov believes. "And this offer by Turkey to the geopolitical opponent of the US is a solution, which cannot but cause a strong reaction in Washington," the president of the National Strategy Institute noted.
At the same time, according to him, "it would be a mistake for Moscow to agree on any projects which require Ankara's political goodwill and, thus, make Russia dependent on this good will."
"That is, the relations are improving and that in turn is improving and strengthening Moscow and Ankara’s positions on the international stage and the international situation in general. And it would be wrong to become a hostage of any special relations with Turkey, because everything that happened has already shown that the foundation of this relationship is quite fragile, and the incident was not accidental," the expert said.
"Such projects as the Turkish Stream, the nuclear power plant projects, the use of military infrastructure, which implies a serious interdependence, should be treated with great caution" Mikhail Remizov concluded.
Political scientist Tanju Tosun, in turn, noted that today there are many obstacles to the opening of the Incirlik base for the Russian Air Force. "In terms of bilateral relations, the Turkish authorities want to show by this statement how far they can go in relations with Russia," he said.
"Everybody understands that this proposal was made of good intentions, that is, in fact, Turkey announced the joint fight with Russia against Daesh and terror in the Middle East. But it is necessary to take NATO into account, which can resist Russia's use of its base, especially when Russia criticizes Finland because of its intention to become a member of the Alliance. Of course, this cannot but irritate NATO officials," Tosun noted.
"I think many factors in the international situation will be taken into account here. This issue has been put on the agenda; but in terms of real politics, I do not think that it will be possible any time soon," the expert concluded.
Later, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he had not suggested that Turkey could open up its Incirlik Air Base to Russia, adding that Ankara was open to cooperating with Moscow in the fight against Daesh.
When asked if he had said Russian jets could use Incirlik, Cavusoglu said: "I did not make such a comment. We said that we could cooperate with everyone in the fight against Daesh," Hurriyet Daily cited him as saying.
