WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Ankara-Moscow rapprochement was cemented during two recent meetings between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the latest on Monday.
"While Erdogan was a major proponent of US-backed efforts against the [Syrian President Bashar] Assad regime for years, internal security threats and the risk of a prospective Kurdish enclave on the border seem to have moved Turkish interests closer to Russia’s," the report stated.
Moreover, the report noted that Russia has advanced its image as a champion of Turkey’s internal security by supporting Erdogan during and after the failed coup attempt in June, without subjecting Turkey to US and European criticism of the crackdown that followed.
In addition, Russia’s recent decision to end economic sanctions that were imposed after Turkey shot down a Russian jet last year have benefitted the Turkish economy with the resumption of Russian tourism and the revival of several big energy projects, according to the report.
