Beyond Energy: Remarks about the Direction of Turkish-Russian Relations and Their Implications for the Cyprus Problem

Euxeinos (GCE-HSG) 18/2015, pp. 28-38
Issue: Energy and Integration in the Black Sea Region

By Ayla Gürel & Harry Tzimitras *

In 2012 analysts were warning that the Syrian crisis could undermine the steadily improving relationship between Turkey and Russia. Three years on, the expected erosion of the Turkish-Russian friendship has yet to occur. Despite their clashing positions over Syria, the two countries’ economic ties have  actually kept on growing, especially in the field of energy, with a new dramatic upswing more recently, irrespectively – or rather arguably  because – of the widening rift between the West (the USA and the EU) and Russia over Ukraine.

* Ayla Gürel is Senior Research Consultant at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) Cyprus Centre in Nicosia, Cyprus. Dr. Harry Tzimitras is the Director the Peace Research Institute Oslo Cyprus Centre.

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