Russian-Turkish relationship depends on mutual interests:analysts
ISTANBUL, Turkey (North Press) – Russia has recently revealed that it does not consider Turkey a strategic ally despite the importance of their close partnership in several issues, and indicated that the relationship is based on mutual interests above all.
“Russia does not consider Turkey as a strategic ally; rather, it is a close partner,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in statements to Russian local media.
“The Russians and Turks have a strategic partnership in several matters,” Lavrov added.
He pointed out Russian-Turkish efforts to settle the Syrian and Libyan conflicts and presenting their interests there.
He also stated that several countries in the area including Turkey, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar have interests outside their boarders, and that the transparency of efforts to present these interests in other countries is the most important thing.
Lavrov noted that this transparency in the Russian-Turkish relationship was provided in Syria.
Turks participate in the implementation of the initiatives proposed by the three guarantor countries, and by this, the partnership between Russia, Iran, and Turkey is of great importance.
Regarding Azerbaijan and the conflict taking place with Armenia, Lavrov called on Turkey to “conduct transparent actions as they are in Syria.”
At the same time he stressed that Russia opposed any Turkish proposal, especially a military one, and that it supported a peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict.
“This is the reality of the Russian-Turkish relationship according to the Russian-Turkish point of view, and Erdogan stated that earlier,” Abdulnaser Hoshan, a member of the Syrian Legalists Committee, said.
Turkey is a strategic ally to NATO, while Russia cannot accept an alliance with it as long as it is allied with NATO, he pointed out.
“Turkey cannot abandon its alliance with NATO for the sake of a traitorous partner who has no covenant and is besieged by sanctions and crises,” Hoshan told North Press.
“Turkey adopts a partnership that gives it a chance to be an active international power through deploying in most international conflict centers,” he added.
“The Russian-Turkish relationship is included within the agreements of urgent needs,” Mustafa No’aymi, an analyst concerned in the Turkish issue, said.
No’aymi cited examples, including the issues of the S-400 and Sikhoy, which affected Turkey’s relationship with the United States, and perhaps its relationship with NATO.
Russia believes that it is important to deal with and provide military temptations to Turkey in order to try to pull the rug out from under NATO, and in the long run, gain strategic relationships that serve its interests, according to No’amy.
“The Russian-Turkish relationships must reach a dead end, and its fall would mean ending Russian presence in the Mediterranean, which would push Russia to accept the highest understandings with the Turkish side,” he confirmed.
He also added, “Idlib, for both sides, is nothing more than a tactical dispute and has not turned into a strategic dispute.”