Russia’s envoy said on Friday that the planned deployment of Patriot air defense systems at the Turkish-Syrian border will mean NATO’s involvement in the Syrian conflict.
Newly-appointed envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko said he repearted Russia’s concerns over the deployment plan at a meeting with the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels.
Referring to last year’s multi-state military intervention in Libya, he said ,“This involvement can become might accelerate and irrevocable in case of an incident or provocation,” Grushko told reporters on Friday. “Previously, the alliance officials have repeatedly said that Syria is not Libya, and NATO doesn’t have a role in the Syrian conflict.”
According to him, Russia insists that the Syrian conflict can’t be resolved with the use of military force.
Recall that Turkey, as a NATO member, has requested the deployment of Patriot missiles on its territory, saying the anti-missile system is necessary to protect its 900-km border with conflict-torn Syria. NATO officials said that the missiles systems won’t be used to establish a no-fly zone or to conduct offensive operations. But Russia expressed negative opinion on the intention.
Note that on December 4 the ongoing civil war in Syria is will be discussed during the NATO-Russia Council meeting of foreign ministers.
