Putin's visit to Turkey is Putin's first visit to a NATO member state since the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year, and it is also his first face-to-face meeting with Turkey's ** Erdogan. The visit has attracted wide attention from the international community, covering Russia's relations with Western countries such as NATO, the European Union, and the United States, as well as Turkey's role and position in regional and international affairs.
It is worth mentioning that Erdogan took the initiative to invite Putin to visit Turkey. It was not a sudden move, but an invitation sent out in August last year, and it was well prepared. Erdogan invited Putin because Turkey is facing an economic crisis and is in dire need of Russian food and energy**. Turkey's economic woes are mainly due to the depreciation of its currency, the lira, which has led to soaring inflation, a rising cost of living, and increased popular discontent. Turkey's foreign policy actions have triggered opposition and sanctions from the United States, the European Union, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other countries, affecting Turkey's international credibility and investment environment. In addition, Turkey's relations with the United States have deteriorated with the purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, and US sanctions against Turkey threaten Turkey's security interests. In this context, Erdogan hopes to ease Turkey's economic difficulties, guarantee Turkey's energy security, and enhance Turkey's international status and influence by strengthening cooperation with Russia.
Putin's visit to Turkey and his acceptance of Erdogan's invitation is due to the fact that Russia also has its own interests and purposes. First of all, Russia is a resource country, and the main pillar of its economy is the export of oil, gas, wheat and other commodities. Turkey is an important export market and transit point for Russia, and there are several pipelines and shipping routes between the two countries, connecting Russia with markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and other regions. Therefore, it is necessary for Russia to maintain good relations with Turkey and avoid affecting its export channels for political or military reasons.
In addition, Putin's visit to Turkey also touched on Russian-Turkish cooperation in the economic, energy, and military fields. According to statistics, in 2019, Russia was Turkey's second largest partner, with a bilateral volume of $26 billion, and Russia exported $18 billion in goods to Turkey, mainly natural gas, oil, wheat, etc. Russia is also Turkey's main energy country, accounting for more than half of Turkey's energy imports. In addition, Russia has built the Akju nuclear power plant in Turkey, the first in Turkey, which is expected to be operational in 2023. The two countries also have cooperation in the military field, in addition to the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, the two sides have coordinated and communicated in regions such as Syria and Libya, avoiding direct conflict and confrontation.
The meeting between Putin and Erdogan will send some important signals to the outside world. First of all, it shows that Russia and Turkey have the need for interdependence and cooperation in the current international situation, and that relations between the two countries will not be broken due to some differences and frictions, but will be handled and resolved through dialogue and consultation. This is conducive to the maintenance of regional peace and stability. Second, the meeting between Putin and Erdogan may have a certain impact on some hot issues in the region. For example, Russia and Turkey are key players in Syria, and the two sides are likely to consult and coordinate on issues such as a ceasefire and a political solution to advance the peace process in Syria. In addition, with the escalation of the civil war in Libya, Russian and Turkish interests in the region are also threatened, and the two sides may discuss and cooperate on how to safeguard their respective interests.
In addition, the meeting between Putin and Erdogan may also exert some influence in international affairs. In recent years, Turkey has played an increasingly important role in regional and international affairs, especially in Syria, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine and other places. The meeting between Putin and Erdogan will further consolidate Turkey's international status and influence, expand the areas of cooperation between Russia and Turkey, and make new contributions to regional peace and stability.