The deployment of military facilities of NATO countries near the borders of the Russian Federation is a reason for special attention and a reason for taking measures for their security, said the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, commenting on Ankara’s statement about the possibility of creating a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan, Ria Novosti reports.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the possibility of creating a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan within the framework of the Shushi agreement signed by the two countries.
“The deployment of the military infrastructure of the member states of the alliance near our borders is the reason for our special attention, as well as the reason for our steps necessary to ensure our security and our interests,” Peskov told reporters.
According to him, this is a matter of Russia’s close attention. “We are cooperating with the Republic of Turkey in stabilizing the situation in the Transcaucasia. We are in close contact with Ankara, Baku and Yerevan. We believe that any steps should contribute to the further stabilization of the situation in the Transcaucasia, developing infrastructure, logistics, and rectifying the situation in general, and they should not contain any elements that could cause an increase in tension,” added Peskov.
In the text of the Shushi Declaration, signed on Tuesday by the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey, in particular, it is noted that both countries will act jointly in case of a threat or aggression from a third state. It is also noted in the declaration that “the parties will continue joint efforts to modernize the armed forces of the two fraternal countries in accordance with modern requirements.”
State Duma linked Turkey’s base in Azerbaijan with the expansion of NATO. Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee Viktor Zavarzin also notes that the possible appearance of a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan can de facto be considered an expansion of NATO.
State Duma called Azerbaijan’s entry into NATO a matter of time. Azerbaijan de facto can be considered a NATO member from the moment the Azerbaijani military together with the Turkish army fought against the CSTO member - Armenia, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee Alexander Sherin said in an interview with Gazeta.Ru.
