On August 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will visit Moscow on a one-day working visit.
The Kremlin on its official website said that the heads of state will discuss topical issues on the bilateral and international agenda.
“During the talks, it is planned to discuss issues of further development of Russian-Turkish cooperation in the political, trade, economic, military-technical and humanitarian spheres, as well as relevant aspects of the international and regional agenda,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Russia and Turkey have complex but constructive relations that are developing very intensively, Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics of the Moscow State Pedagogical University, recalled in an interview with RT.
“There are contradictions in these relations, which primarily relate to different visions of the current and future state of Syria. However, Russia and Turkey already have quite a lot of positive experience in resolving any controversial situations and joint interaction for the benefit of both the peoples of the two countries and the world community as a whole, ”the political scientist noted.
Syrian settlement
As suggested in a conversation with RT director of the Center for the Study of the New Turkey. Yuri Mavashev, the main topic of negotiations will be the situation in Idlib.
“Now Russia must defend its interests and even at some point it can be done more aggressively, because on the Idlib issue, she offered Turkey everything she could ... For Turkey, Idlib is a painful topic, because for her this is the last frontier of influence in Syria "- explained the expert.
Recall, a few days ago, on August 23, Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan held a telephone conversation, during which they discussed the settlement of the conflict in Syria. The Kremlin’s press service said the presidents touched on issues of bilateral cooperation “in the context of stabilizing the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone.”
- Fights in Iblid Province
- © Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP
“It was agreed to intensify joint efforts to eliminate the terrorist threat emanating from this region,” the report said.
In addition, Putin and Erdogan discussed other aspects of the Syrian settlement, including the work being carried out by Russia, Turkey and Iran with the UN to form and launch the Syrian constitutional committee.
The Russian Foreign Minister previously told reporters that Russian and Turkish troops are in constant contact on the situation in the Syrian de-escalation zone in Idlib, where their actions are aimed at stopping regular ceasefire violations by terrorists.
In early 2018, Putin and Erdogan agreed to create a demilitarized zone inside Idlib to stop possible provocations.
On August 27, Putin and Erdogan will discuss both the situation in Idlib and the situation in the areas controlled by Kurdish self-defense units, Vladimir Shapovalov explained.
“It will be about forming a new constitution and re-establishing Syrian statehood on the basis of this constitution,” the political scientist said.
But the dialogue between Russia and Turkey will not be limited exclusively to Syrian issues, Shapovalov added.
“It will concern a wide range of geopolitical problems, since there is still a large Middle East, which is now a zone of increased conflict. In addition, Russia and Turkey take a close position on a wide range of issues that concern Venezuela and Iran, ”said Vladimir Shapovalov.
"Turkish stream"
According to experts, among the topics of the economic bloc, the main focus will be on Turkish Stream.
By the end of 2019, it is planned to put into operation the first line of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline - a trunk with a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters per year, which is fully focused on the domestic energy market of Turkey.
On August 14, the South Stream Transport BV project company, which is engaged in the construction of the highway, said that the construction of a receiving terminal for Turkish Stream was completed by 95%.
- Turkish stream
- © PJSC Gazprom
In the future, after expanding the capacity of the gas pipeline and completing the construction of its second branch, transit deliveries to Europe will begin. However, the route of the second line of the Turkish Stream has not yet been named, although, most likely, it will pass through Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary to Austria, where the Central European gas hub in Baumgarten is located. At the same time, a route option through Greece is also being considered.
In a conversation with RT, Yuri Mavashev did not rule out that within the framework of the discussion of joint economic projects, not only the dialogue on the Turkish Stream would continue, but also, perhaps, discussions would begin on the development of the Cyprus shelf, rich in gas fields.
Gazprom has stated that it is ready to assist Turkey. However, if Moscow supports Ankara, it will become a matter of international scope, because France and Great Britain are categorically against. Most likely, the meeting will discuss in what parameters Russia is ready to support Turkey and whether it can do it in such a way as not to cause international irritation, ”the political scientist explained.
Also, Russia and Turkey have another major joint energy project - the construction of the Akkuyu NPP, which Rosatom is engaged in, experts recall. In early April, Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan took part in the video conference on the official start of the construction of the Akkuyu NPP.
As Orientalist Sergei Demidenko, associate professor at the RANEPA Institute of Social Sciences, explained in a RT commentary, Akkuyu NPP is today one of the main projects between the countries.
“Russia successfully continues to implement it, taking into account the fact that it will independently operate and sell this station to the Turkish population,” the expert said in a conversation with RT.
Obviously, in the framework of the dialogue between Putin and Erdogan, economic relations that are developing positively will be considered, said Vladimir Shapovalov in an interview with RT
“The leaders of the two countries will discuss the construction of the Turkish Stream and the nuclear power plant, the development of Russian tourism in Turkey, and the supply of Turkish goods to Russia. Most likely, it will be necessary to expect economic negotiations and, possibly, the conclusion of new contracts between Russia and Turkey, ”the political scientist suggested.
Military-technical cooperation
One of the main areas of rapprochement between Russia and Turkey in the past two years has been cooperation in the military-technical sphere, experts say. To strengthen the country's defense capability, Ankara is purchasing from Russia the S-400 Triumph missile systems.
- Delivery to Turkey of S-400 air defense systems from Russia
- © TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTRY / AFP
This caused a negative reaction from the United States, which tried to put pressure on Turkey, forcing it to abandon the deal. Washington stated that the US ally in NATO cannot integrate Russian missile defense systems into its defense system.
The US State Department threatened Ankara with sanctions under the Law on Countering America's Enemies through Sanctions (CAATSA).
In addition, the US Congress blocked the transfer of fifth-generation F-35 fighters to Turkey, stopped the training of Turkish pilots on flying these aircraft, and also excluded Ankara and Turkish companies from the production program of these aircraft.
However, Turkey did not refuse to purchase S-400 systems, the components of which were delivered to the country during the summer.
In mid-July, Rostec head of state corporation Sergey Chemezov announced Russia's readiness to supply Su-35 aircraft to Turkey upon receipt of an official request.
According to experts, the issue of acquiring Russian fighters can also be raised during the negotiations between the leaders of the two countries.
“The Turkish side could potentially make a request for Russian aircraft,” said Yuri Mavashev.
Obviously, negotiations on the development of military-technical cooperation between Russia and Turkey will continue, Vladimir Shapovalov is sure.
“Turkey, having bought the Russian S-400, entered into a serious conflict with the United States, so the supply of Russian weapons is an important area for Ankara,” the expert concluded.