Putin and Erdoğan, the odd couple facing the West

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warmly welcomed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, despite Ankara's chilly weather, and it was clear from the outset that the sides were set to push Turkish-Russian relations to new heights, in spite of political differences on Ukraine and Syria.

The Russian Federation, under the leadership of Putin, has risen from the ashes of the Soviet Union to reemerge as a leading global state. Putin has put Russia back on the map and now faces serious criticism from the West.

Turkey, under Erdoğan, has become one of the top 16 economies in the West and a leading power in the Middle East and in southeastern Europe. Turkey is now considered a rising star both in regional and global politics despite criticism from its Western allies.

Both Putin and Erdoğan have been accused of authoritarianism in some Western circles and their style of leadership has always been debated. Putin and Erdoğan have both served as prime minister and now as president but they have always been regarded as the undisputed leaders of their respective countries.

Russia's support for Ukrainian separatists and its invasion of Crimea angered the West, triggering sanctions. Turkey has also opposed the invasion of Crimea but has kept a low profile in its criticism and Putin should understand the importance of this, especially as it comes from Erdoğan, who has been outspoken when people like the Crimean Tatars, a Turkic people, face injustice. Erdoğan wants the Russians to see the light regarding Crimean Tatars and thus help to enhance their role in the new set up in Crimea. Russia also has to see that the situation in Ukraine and Crimea has great similarities with the Cyprus issue. Maybe then Moscow can understand Ankara's reservations about Cyprus.
Erdoğan sees Washington as its main ally in finding a solution to the Syrian mess and thus does not make an issue of Russian and Iranian support for the Assad regime.

While the West has targeted Putin, especially on the Ukraine crisis, Western circles have not been too kind on Erdoğan, mainly because of his Islamic background, his outspoken style regarding Israel's attacks on the Palestinians and the undemocratic regime in Egypt.

So Erdoğan and Putin are not the most popular people in the Western capitals. This makes them natural allies in view of the great economic and strategic potential of Turkey and Russia. That is why the talks in Ankara are concentrating on economic cooperation and energy.

Turkey and Russia plan to boost their annual trade volume to $100 billion by 2020. The way things are shaping up, this target can be achieved provided both sides make an effort and erase some of the trade barriers, especially on the Russian side.

Turkey can become an excellent trade and financial partner for Russia, and there have already been successes in this area to prove it. Both Erdoğan and Putin are set to achieve greater ties, according to well-placed sources.

Russia is inclined to appease Ankara regarding energy, which means lowering natural gas fees and increasing supply. That, in return, means that Russia can build Turkey's third nuclear power station.

The winds of strong cooperation are in the air as Erdoğan and Putin face unfriendly breezes from the West.