... responsibility for the attack, but Ankara blamed the YPG for the explosion.
Neither Turkey’s NATO allies nor most EU countries, which included the PKK in their terrorist lists,... ... been less consistent with the PKK affiliates of the KCK. Washington has chosen the Syrian branch of the PKK, the PYD, and its combat wing, the YPG, as its priority ally... ... fight against the IS terrorists (an organization recognized as terrorist and banned in Russia). This, however, did not happen immediately as the Pentagon and the CIA were...
Interconnectedness of Turkey with Europe and USA may be of good utility for Russian global foreign policy
With ongoing debates on Russian-made S-400 deliveries to Turkey, fate of continuing cooperation of Russia, Turkey and Iran in Syria and future of Ankara’s relations with the European Union and NATO, it is high time to make an honest review of Russian-Turkish relations, define weaknesses of bilateral cooperation and try to sketch a framework for a better future. Inspection of historical legacy and nature of current ties may be of big value for ...
... were forced to respond to the growing security challenges there. However, insufficient communication between the two influential players on harmonizing their interests and creating joint approaches to regional security led to a crisis on the Turkish- Syrian border on 24 November 2015. This incident again called into question the level of relations between Russia and NATO member states. Together with a military coup attempt in Turkey in 2016, the so-called “jet crisis” had a special importance for the role of Turkey in NATO.
The crisis in Russia-Turkey bilateral relations has been resolved and relations are now restored. The normalization of relations required revised approaches ...
Relations between the U.S. and Russia appear to be almost at the point of no return
Relations ... ... These include security concerns and disputes revolving around NATO and European Union enlargement, Russian actions in Crimea ... ... that has been further antagonizing relations.
First, NATO-member Turkey
shot down
a Russian aircraft in November 2015 — an action ... ... Then, in early April 2017, the U.S. fired 59 cruise missiles at Syrian airbase on grounds that the Syrian military had allegedly ...
The story of how Russia won the (First) Russo-American Cyberwar because American ... ... then-ongoing diplomatic efforts to win cooperation with the Russians on Syria, as all recent diplomatic talks with them on Syria had been ... ... an intensely close decision; Russia has also been active in non-NATO Sweden this year, particularly when it was voting on closer ... ... Germany and Austria. Furthermore, U.S. and NATO “ally” Turkey has taken a decidedly sharp anti-democratic and anti-Western ...
... rapprochement’ seems to work in the short term. Nevertheless, taking in consideration different interests of Turkey and Russia in some international issues and Turkey’s current membership in NATO, it is too early to talk about a full-scale strategic partnership between the two. Time will show whether Ankara and Moscow ... ... capable of forming such a political partnership that could become a real game changer in international system. In that sense, Syria will be the first test to observe the likelihood and future of the partnership.
... Since then, it has failed to effectively deal with conflict in Libya, Ukraine, and Syria, all within or near its periphery. The situation in Syria has led to refugee and... ... regional refugee and economic policies. In France, a rising far-right party funded by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government may possibly come to control France... ... left and drives its people further to the right. The assault on democratic norms in Turkey by its government is far worse. Still worse in that region, the Arab Spring has...
... Vinogradov
Yuri Barmin:
Following the Downing of its Su-24 Russia
Changes the Rules of the Game in Syria
Most Americans are never going to agree with Russia's actions in Syria and Ukraine, and most Russians are never going to agree with America's actions in Syria and Ukraine. But a good first step toward peace in these and all conflicts is to refrain from fighting. Russia has refrained from fighting with Turkey and thereby saved the NATO alliance from a potentially devastating existential crisis. The United States and its allies should reciprocate by canceling their economic sanctions on Russia.
Russia and the West may never be allies or even partners, but they can and should live ...
... the YPG-FSA touch line. The Kurdish forces allegedly used Russian airstrikes to retake a portion of the rebel-controlled areas that were under attack. Following the downing of a Russian fighter jet Moscow is likely to intensify contacts with Kurds in Syria and possibly start supporting their territorial ambitions to irritate Ankara.
Turkey’s decision to shoot down a Russian fighter jet that may or may not have violated its airspace, which would normally be seen as an act of war, clearly took NATO aback. The Alliance released a low-key statement following the incident, and according to some accounts there was no unity within NATO over Ankara’s response to alleged violation of its border.
Russia’s reaction to the downing of its ...