VIDEO
Russian President Vladimir Putin has assiduously courted Turkey for well over a decade, with largely positive results. Difficulties between Ankara and Washington over Syria and the 2016 coup attempt have also provided openings for Putin. At the same time, differences between Moscow and Ankara in the South Caucasus, Syria, and Libya have served as a reminder of traditional differences between Russia and Turkey. But overall, the relationship has gotten closer, including in the defense field.
The recent re-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine sharpened questions about Turkey’s role as both a partner and competitor with Moscow. While it has deepened ties with Russia, Turkey has simultaneously been developing a close strategic relationship with Ukraine. At the height of tensions between Moscow and Kyiv this spring, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed a joint declaration formalizing Ankara’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and NATO membership.
