From the failed 2016 coup attempt to the S-400s

The moment when Turkey received the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, designed primarily to shoot down NATO planes, carries immense geopolitical significance, and as such it deserves closer inspection. Careful examination reveals a number of moves intended to send a message.

The deployment of the air-defense system began on July 12, just three days before the third anniversary of the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. The alleged culprit, according to Ankara, was the Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is in self-exile in Pennsylvania. Apart from various high-ranking officials, the arrival of the S-400 components was also attended by numerous media crews that broadcast the ceremony live on most national TV channels, making sure the world was watching the geopolitical shift.
But perhaps the most important symbolism in the deployment was its location. The reception...

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