Relations between Russia and Turkey before, during, and after the failed coup of 2016

Abstract

Increasing cooperation between Russia and Turkey date back to the 1990s, and go beyond the preferences of a specific political party or leader. A number of geopolitical interests pitted Russia and Turkey against one another in neighboring regions. The escalation of PKK attacks in Turkey starting in July 2015 and the failed coup attempt of the Gülenists in July 2016 motivated Turkey to seek closer relations with Russia as the United States became an increasingly unreliable actor in the context of Turkey's fight against the PKK-PYD and the Gülenists. Likewise, Russia's dependence on the Turkish Straits as its main supply route to its bases in Syria, Turkey's role as a key customer of Russian natural gas and grain, the goal of breaching Western economic sanctions, as well as consolidating Russia's internal security, all motivate Russia to seek closer relations with Turkey.