Page 7 - TURKRptFeb20

2.2 Between Putin and Trump...
Erdogan is still pulling off a delicate balancing act keeping both Putin and Trump as allies. Latter has curious Istanbul business interests. EU, meanwhile, too engaged with its own urgent matters to spend much time on the Turkish thorn in its side.
The human rights situation in Turkey remains desperate.
Erdogan ping pongs between Trump and Vladimir Putin, each time picking up tactical assistance that keeps his pot on the boil. The US and Russia, allies in the two world wars, have a common interest in stopping China’s rise and bringing about the destruction of the European Union.
Supposed Nato ally Ankara’s purchase of Russian S-400 advanced missile defence systems, the indictment in the 'The US vs Halkbank' Iran sanctions-busting case and Turkey’s actions in Syria have incensed senators on both sides of the floor in the US Senate and could provoke meaningful sanctions—but Trump has continued to stand in the way. ‘Fake sanctions’ that mean diddly squat are all that Trump has let through up till now. November 2020 could deliver a Trump landslide.
Almighty mess that is Syria . Syria remains an almighty mess and it will not be solved within 2020. The main difficulty in its north, which concerns northern neighbour Turkey, is the dozens of thousands of jihadists in Idlib.
7 TURKEY Country Report OUTLOOK 2020 www.intellinews.com