The United States and NATO support Turkey’s right to defend its airspace and sovereignty, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters today following the downing of a Russian military aircraft by the Turkish military.
No U.S. military forces were involved, Cook said, when the Russian aircraft reportedly crossed over the Turkish-Syrian border and into Turkey’s airspace, Cook said.
Details about the incident still are being investigated, he added.
“U.S. officials have been in touch with their Turkish counterparts about the incident, and continue to gather more information,” Cook said, reiterating what President Barack Obama said earlier today.
NATO Calls Meeting on Incident
Additionally, NATO conducted “an extraordinary meeting” today on the downing of the Russian military airplane at Turkey’s request, Cook said.
Noting that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently spoke on the incident, the press secretary said the United States and NATO “urge Turkey and Russia to de-escalate the situation [and] resolve this matter through discussion, diplomacy and de-confliction measures.”
(Follow Terri Moon Cronk on Twitter: @MoonCronkDoD)