Putin And Erdogan To Rekindle Lost Love

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan decided to turn a blank page in their strained relationship with the latter’s visit to Russia yesterday. Ties between the two strongmen frayed after Turkish pilots shot down a Russian jet for violating Turkish airspace while bombing Syria. However, Erdogan’s relationship with the US and Europe has recently come under strain after they criticized him for an over-zealous crackdown following a failed coup in Turkey last month. Sensing an opportunity to drive another wedge through NATO and bolster his “shirtless strongman” alliance, Putin decided to phase out sanctions on Turkey and bring the two countries together. The coup has united most of Turkey behind its usually polarizing President as many Turks support the government’s crackdown and are wary of Western criticisms of it. 

GOOD READ: London Review Of Books On The Two Narratives Regarding The Attempted Coup