Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Contemporary Turkish-Russian Relations in the 21st Century Global Geopolitics, Hasret ÇOMAK,Ozan ÖRMECİ,Mesut ÖZEL,Doğan Şafak POLAT,Burak Şakir ŞEKER, Editör, Transnational, London, ss.241-255, 2025
Relations between Türkiye and Russia have historically been shaped by a balance of competition and cooperation. The interaction between the two countries can be examined from a broad perspective, ranging from the wars between the Ottoman Empire and Tsarist Russia to the ideological rivalry of the Cold War. At times, both nations have formed alliances in line with their geopolitical interests, while at other times, they have engaged in intense competition. With the end of the Cold War in the 1990s, bilateral relations took on a new dimension, particularly in the areas of economic and energy cooperation. Türkiye’s increasing energy demand and Russia’s role as a dominant regional supplier strengthened economic ties between the two countries. However, diplomatic relations have experienced periodic fluctuations, largely shaped by the regional security policies of both nations. While Türkiye’s NATO membership and its strategic partnership with the West have occasionally created tensions with Russia, economic and energy cooperation has remained a stabilizing factor in bilateral relations.However, the Syrian crisis, which erupted in 2011, has put Turkish-Russian relations to a new test. While Türkiye adopted an active foreign policy in Syria to ensure border security and manage the flow of Syrian migrants, Russia pursued a strategy of ensuring the continuation of the Assad regime by increasing its military presence in the region.These different priorities led to diplomatic tensions, such as the plane crisis in 2015, but in the post-2016 period, cooperation processes between the parties came into effect.Türkiye’s security concerns in Syria are based on three main factors: border security,counterterrorism and the migrant crisis. These factors have been the main factors shaping Türkiye’s military interventions and presence in the region.The Syrian issue is of great importance not only in the context of bilateral relations between Türkiye and Russia, but also in terms of regional and global power balances. While Türkiye, as a NATO member, is under the security umbrella of the West, Russia, as a global power competing with the U.S., sees Syria as a sphere of influence.The involvement of Türkiye and Russia in Syria has become a pivotal factor influencing the balance of power in the region. Türkiye’s participation in the Astana process and its diplomatic collaboration with Russia demonstrate that diplomatic cooperation can coexist with military competition. This study seeks to examine the evolution of the security dimension in Turkish Russian relations after 2016, particularly focusing on how cooperation and rivalry have unfolded amid the Syrian crisis. Additionally, the research will explore the impact of Türkiye’s security policies in Syria on its relationship with Russia, emphasizing the role of military cooperation and energy diplomacy in shaping the bilateral interactions. The objective is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the diplomatic efforts between the two countries, while also considering other influential factors, such as energy and military collaboration.