Vladimir Putin has used Turkish President Erdogan's desire to perform at the Concert of the Greats for his own ends.
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| TURKEY-RUSSIA RELATIONS |
The Russian invasion on Ukraine has dispelled many misconceptions regarding Moscow's foreign strategy, and not only in Europe. Turkey is also being returned to Earth. Turkey's self-assessment as a rising force in the world is exposed as arrogance.
So far, President Erdogan has exploited his tight collaboration with Kremlin head Putin to achieve Turkish objectives in Syria and to convey to the West that Turkey can act independently of Americans and Europeans and on its own behalf.
Despite harsh condemnation from NATO allies, Turkey purchased a Russian air defense system and talked disparagingly about the West. Erdogan has accused the United States and Europe of exacerbating the Ukraine conflict. He claims that Europe will face a leadership crisis once Angela Merkel's tenure ends. US Vice President Joe Biden is likewise underperforming. Erdogan aspired to be a better mediator. But he didn't succeed.
Erdogan brags about his friendship with Putin
Erdogan has been lauded by pro-government media in Turkey as a defining figure in a new international order in which America and Europe are losing power. The Turkish president claimed that certain foreign leaders are envious of his strong connection with Putin, and he planned a tripartite conference in Turkey with the Kremlin head and Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy. Putin, on the other hand, dismissed him. In fact, he prefers to conduct business with the United States rather than Ankara.
Putin has used Erdogan's desire to perform at the Concert of the Greats for his own ends. The Turkish President made his country dependent on Moscow in order to demonstrate it to the West. The degree of this dependence is now known. Russia supplies half of Turkey's natural gas imports, 40% of its oil imports, and 75% of its wheat imports.
Erdogan expressly refers to Russia as a "friend."
If Turkey offends the Kremlin, it risks Putin sending millions more Syrian migrants into Turkey, little than a year and a half before the next Turkish election, when many Turks are already irritated by the large number of Syrian refugees.