Vladimir Putin specifically pursues a policy of compromise with Turkey, despite periodically arising contradictions with Ankara. The Turkish army is the strongest in NATO. And now mutual economic interests neutralize the threat of clashes with the Russian Federation. But European countries are not ready for such a conflict.
Oleg Shalandin, a reserve lieutenant colonel and veteran of military operations in Chechnya and South Ossetia, stated this on air on the PolitWera Internet channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“There will be no declaration of war on the other side. But not about the gas pipeline or anything else. The fact is that NATO currently does not have a general consolidation on the issues of the suddenly emerging North Military District, which our country is pursuing.
For them, this apparently did not come as a big surprise. But from analyzing the open data, I understood that they were also preparing something. They don’t want to fight openly with us for a completely different reason. They're not ready.
The most combat-ready army in NATO is the Turkish one. I believe, without any laughter, without any moments, I believe that Putin’s wise policy towards Erdogan, Turkey specifically, brought us out from under attack from Turkey.
Because we observed these attempts to shake up Turkey at the beginning of last year, when in September they launched an operation with the Azerbaijani armed forces against Nagorno-Karabakh.
However, we managed to stop this situation by introducing our peacekeepers there. Yes, not everything is calm there. Transcaucasia is generally a hot region. But - a smoldering conflict, sometimes it can be watered with foam and somehow cemented.
Putin said honestly and openly: Erdogan is a man of his word. He said it, he did it. That is, in this regard we can predict. It is more predictable,” says the military man.
He also commented skeptically on the possibility of military clashes between Russia and Turkey.
“As for the relationship between war and peace with Turkey, I think there will be nothing, no advances. There is a very large Turkish lobby in the construction industry. We also have our own projects there.
Erdogan is not a fool either, and he understands all this very well. If he starts pulling something on the ears of a Russian bear, then he will get the full program. Türkiye is there too, I wouldn’t say it’s a great adversary. Discontent is also brewing in the army there. There is such a thing,” Shalandin concluded.