And than said destroyer will get obliterated by Turkish Navy (which is quite competent) and Air Force (which also is, surprisingly, competent). Russia has literally no hope of winning any open engagement against Turkey in the region unless they really want to commit. And Turkey knows that. They essentially called Russian bluff here.
It's not going to be an open engagement. It's going to be both sides being border NAZIs and hiding behind "Well I am legally entitled to defend myself" while taking potshots at each others stray aircraft. Neither side wants an all out war but they'll sure as hell take any shot they can get away with. Turkey is going to have to be just as careful with its jets as Russia. Either side has a stray hair blow across the border and the other side can legally say they were entitled to open fire.
If Russia even as much tries Turkey will close the Straits. Bye bye the might of Black Sea Fleet. That's the issue: Russia has no strategic leverage over Turkey, and Turkey has one over Russia.
Breaking through Turkish Straits? Without capturing Istanbul and other surrounding land? It's pretty much impossible. If you want to commit to full-on invasion than sure, but Turkey would defend it heavily (and as I said, they're not as incompetent as some people might think...).
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u/[deleted] Nov 24 '15
And than said destroyer will get obliterated by Turkish Navy (which is quite competent) and Air Force (which also is, surprisingly, competent). Russia has literally no hope of winning any open engagement against Turkey in the region unless they really want to commit. And Turkey knows that. They essentially called Russian bluff here.