China Critics Are Safe Nowhere

If the accusation is true, the incident could portend Russian President Vladimir Putin’s desire to increase tensions with Turkey and therefore the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as well. With the price of crude oil remaining in the low $30s, a military provocation may be one method Russia has decided to try in order to pressure crude oil prices higher. Interestingly enough, the incident came a day after Russia announced Saudi Arabia had requested a meeting to discuss a 5% cut in oil production which saw crude oil prices increase approximately 5 percent. Saudi Arabia quickly denied the Russian statement. We may be witnessing a multifaceted effort by Russia to increase oil revenues through geopolitical tension and propaganda. Russia could be also be daring Turkey to take another shot at Russian aircraft now that it has deployed advanced anti-aircraft systems, and cutting edge fighter jets in the region.