Analysis of interview

The Current State and the Future of Russian-Turkish Relations

Insights from Ismael Tas of the RUTID

The relationship between Russia and Turkey has been highly controversial owing to centuries of political , economic , and ideological rivalry . Russian and Turkish relation has been historically characterized by mutual enmity and distrust , with Russia regarding Turkey as a major barrier to trading channels in the Mediterranean and to most seaways (Hill 2003 :56 . This rivalry was further heightened during the years of Russian socialist experimentation , with Turkey becoming the United States ' closest ally in the

Middle East whose primary responsibility was to keep socialism from further spreading into and outside the Turkish bs (Zaman 1995 :14

The end of the cold war and the dissolution of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics (USSR , however , signalled the onset of radical changes in the political and economic links between the two countries . Indeed recent developments in Russia and Turkey foreign policy point to the growing ties between the two countries in terms of increased trade and business . In the same manner , Hill and Taspinar (2006 : 82 ) observe that Russian and Turkish military interests have been converging in the wake of the United States attack on Iraq in 2002 , with both countries being noticeably unreceptive to the Unites States ' aggressive pursuit of its own geopolitical and economic interests in the region . Further , an interview with Ismael Tas reveals that Russia is actively trying to win Turkey into its fold through strategic economic partnerships , which undermines the United...