Handshake
Two of the worst guys in the world have patched up their quarrel. Putin and Erdoğan are besties again.
What brought the two he-men back together?
[A]fter the 15 July coup attempt in Turkey, Mr Putin expressed support for Mr Erdogan. He did not criticise Mr Erdogan’s crackdown on political opponents and purge of alleged “plotters” in state institutions.
The BBC’s Sarah Rainsford says Russia is keen to capitalise on Turkey’s cooling relations with the West following the failed coup.
Mr Erdogan was angered by criticism from the EU and the US of the mass detentions of suspected plotters.
If people are giving you the stink-eye because of your brisk way with human rights, who ya gonna call? Not the same kind of bleeding heart human rights-lovers who are scowling at you, but a standup no bullshit fuck all this PC nonsense guy like Putin, that’s who.
It’s not all roses and chocolates though. They have their differences.
They back opposing sides in Syria. Turkey is furious at the scale of Russian air support for Syrian government forces, as Mr Erdogan reviles Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Russia has accused Turkey of backing Islamist anti-Assad groups, including some accused of “terrorism” in Russia.
Turkey is at war with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the PKK’s Syrian allies. Mr Erdogan has accused Russia of arming the PKK.
For centuries Russia and Turkey have been rivals for influence in the Caucasus and Black Sea region.
Turkey was also angered by Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, accusing Moscow of violating the rights of Crimean Tatars. The Muslim Tatars have long had close ties to Turkey.
Russia annexed Crimea??! I thought that was Obama! Or Hillary! Or future-Hillary! Someone like that.
But Russia’s not going to go into Ukraine! Trump said so!
” Putin and Erdogan are besties again”
It’s reminiscent of the deep friendship between Hitler and Stalin.
Turkey and Russia haven’t been rivals for ‘influence’ for centuries but rivals for territory and Russia is now by far the more powerful predator, so Erdogan will have to tread very carefully. A few more warm-water ports will be very useful to the Russian navy.
I’ve heard a couple of pseuco-lefties insist that the US has a secret army in the Ukraine. No annexation here, nothing to see.