Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan met for the third time this year. And again, the presidents of Russia and Turkey took a lot of time for each other. They are two men who, even if they call themselves that, will not be friends for the time being. But the two presidents of Russia and Turkey are currently pulling together because they have common interests. They are economic interests as well as political and geostrategic ones.
During Erdogan’s visit to Moscow, both he and Putin praised the good cooperation in the energy sector. The construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, the Turkish president emphasized, is proceeding according to plan.
Strategic cooperation in the energy sector
The Russian President praised the fact that Russian-Turkish energy cooperation has become strategic. „Russia is the largest supplier of natural gas to Turkey, exporting 24 billion cubic meters last year,“ says Putin. „It covers almost half of the country’s total needs,“ said Putin. The commissioning of the pipeline will once again promote gas supplies to Turkish consumers.
And not only that. Over the long term, gas will also be forwarded to Southeastern Europe via the pipeline. For Moscow, this route is another alternative to gas transit through Ukraine – and an opportunity to exert greater political influence in countries such as Bulgaria, Hungary and Serbia.
Turkey is reorienting itself away from the EU and NATO
The fact that Turkey feels abandoned by the European Union and NATO and is now oriented towards Russia also benefits the Kremlin in another area. Turkey is the first NATO member to acquire Russian missiles. The contract is already signed. To put him on ice is out of the question for Turkish President Erdogan despite massive pressure from the Americans. That makes Putin happy and makes him optimistic about the future.
„Other promising projects are on the agenda,“ says Putin. „These are deliveries from state-of-the-art Russian armaments production.“ It is an announcement likely to fuel NATO’s anger over its partner Turkey.
Concern for balance of power in the Near and Middle East
However, the rapprochement between Turkey and Russia also increases the concern that the balance of power in the Middle East could shift. Even if Putin and Erdogan are just in view of the situation in Syria on many issues only superficially agreed.
This also applies to the joint fight against terrorists, which Erdogan would like to promote. „These are both the steps we have already taken and the measures we are planning,“ says Erdogan. What is meant is a renewed military action against Kurdish combat units in Syria, which Erdogan vigorously described as terrorists.
To ensure its own security, the Turkish leadership is seeking to establish a buffer zone on Syrian territory under Turkish control.
Russia against buffer zone in Syria
The plans of the Russian leadership do have some understanding, but not approval. „We expect that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria must be maintained,“ Putin said. „It is unacceptable to divide the country into zones of influence.
Even if today’s similarities have been emphasized again and again today, both sides focus primarily on their interests. It is and remains for the time being a purpose alliance.
