Erdogan’s Surprise Western Pivot
Source:Yahoo news Date:25Jul2023
And now that he has secured a new five-year term, Erdogan appears to be making amends with Western countries following years of strained relations, raising questions about what that means for his cordial relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, for Ankara’s deepening economic ties to Moscow, and for Turkey’s approach to Kyiv and the war in Ukraine.
Yet Erdogan’s tilt to the West and improving ties with Middle East neighbors show he now has options other than Putin and Russia to help him out of his economic troubles, experts said.
Ahead of Putin’s expected visit, Erdogan swung through the Middle East, securing promises of major investments.
And while Turkey still needs cheap Russian energy, Putin and the Russian elite need Turkey more, Mark Katz, a professor of political science at George Mason University in the United States who focuses on Russia’s relations with the Middle East,