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68 Opinion bne September 2022
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have built up a good working relationship based on self-interest. Turkey wants to increase its geopolitical influence and Putin needs to source now the goods that have been sanctioned by the West. / bne IntelliNews
COMMENT
Turkey moves closer to Russia, but is immune to Western sanctions
Denis Cenusa in Germany
Since the Russian military aggression has plagued Ukraine's territorial integrity, stability and security, Turkey has been adjusting its interests and position towards each side accordingly. Ukraine apparently found
a reliable partner in Turkey, which provided military support and a diplomatic platform for negotiations with the Russians. Even more pronounced due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Turkey's balanced foreign policy proved helpful in maintain- ing engagement with both Ukraine and Russia.
Ankara is fully aware that a balanced position generates
a wide range of geopolitical and geoeconomic privileges. First, Turkey refreshes its international reputation damaged by frequent episodes of repression against the opposition, critical media, disloyal civil society organisations and secessionist ethnic minorities.
Second, given Russia's isolation from Western markets through sanctions, Ankara is able to take advantage of
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Russia's domestic market from which more than 1,000 Western companies have fully or partially exited. Turkey's export-oriented economy needs new markets to stabilise the national currency and ease social tensions, and with the popularity of the regime.
Third, its non-alignment with the sanction’s regime opens the door for the Kremlin, which needs allies in the region
and is willing to make mutually beneficial concessions. This also includes Russia's willingness to contribute to Turkey's increased geopolitical role in the emerging international order.
Last but not least, as it draws closer to Russia, Turkey has several levers at its disposal to protect itself against Western "secondary sanctions". Ankara is currently blocking Finland and Sweden from becoming Nato members. In addition, it can open its doors to the 3.7mn Syrian refugees who aspire to reach Europe and who have been welcomed by Turkey since the 2015 migration crisis. In these circumstances, at least in