15. Transformation of Turkish Foreign Policy and Its Reflections on Turkey–Russia Relations

Turkey and Russia have been rivals for centuries. While the political atmosphere of the Cold War had added to this rivalry, the end of the Cold War did not put an end to it automatically. The 1990s were a decade of lost opportunities for Turkey–Russia relations. The early 2000s marked the beginning of a new phase. The states adopted a more cooperative approach compared to the previous era. They built on the growing economic ties between the countries to begin a renewal in political relations. The two countries have been brought closer together by their deteriorating relationships with the West, mutual economic interests, and pragmatic realization that failure to manage some of their differences is fraught with negative consequences for both. Still, their partnership is limited as it lacks both the institutionalization and common vision to go beyond its selective nature. Therefore, bilateral relations remain fragile and inconsistent. This chapter aims to discuss the changing dynamics of Turkey–Russia relations in the last twenty years. While doing so domestic, international and regional developments that shaped bilateral relations will be addressed. Moreover, this chapter also will try to shed light on the potential areas for further cooperation and challenges that need to be considered in the future.