A nation must think before it acts.
The Resiliency of Turkey-Russia Relations
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Executive Summary
The Republic of Turkey and the Russian Federation are at odds over multiple issues, not least the Syrian Civil War, where they back warring proxies. Yet the two countries have bounced back from crises and are quickly deepening their relations. This paper will argue that this is due to the two countries’ relationship with the West, particularly the United States. Rather than concrete economic or strategic gain, it will highlight the importance of the Turkish leadership’s worldview as a force that brings the countries together. It will then discuss the limits of Turkey’s enchantment with Russia, arguing that enthusiasm is outweighing caution in Ankara.
