Turkey and Russia Advance on S-400 & Pipeline

Turkey controls the Bosphorus Strait, the link between the Black Sea to ultimately the Mediterranean and Syria. The control maintained by Turkey on this waterway is powerful leverage in its relationship with Russia.

In theory, if you don’t have leverage to stop someone, you are better off being their partner.

For example, when Trump sent military force out to confront North Korea, this was predicated on the US ability to frighten Russian and China.

However, conventional missiles held by North Korea could destroy an aircraft carrier, so by sending an aircraft carrier, the US quite possibly sent the ship out to be sacrificed, hoping for an incident of US victimization in order to pursue “cowboy diplomacy” and bring the Chinese and Russians in to the conflict, rather than coming from a position of strength.

Fortunately, those in power in the US don’t want to deal with situation that would arise afterwards. The US is not militarily able to confront North Korea.

Similarly, the Russians are not in a position to confront Turkey, despite its previous ISIS ties. Russia has no choice but to get along with Turkey, and that power gives Turkey confidence in dealing with Russia

The US is getting aggressive on trade with Turkey and in its backing the Kurds in Syria, so essentially the US is in operating in opposition to Turkey. US foreign policy is now based on Israeli foreign policy, one that does not care about President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Erdoğan himself is still ruled by his internal political situations as he is faced internal instability and is needing to purge and silence his opponents.  As the possibility for EU membership fades, Turkey is becoming more isolated from Europe, so its relationship with Russia is becoming that much more valuable.

TASS: Turkey, Russia clinch agreement on S-400 air defense system deliveries

Turkey will purchase Russia’s anti-aircraft missile systems as it “needs to strengthen its air defense capabilities,” the country’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said

ANKARA, April 28. /TASS/. Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement in principle on the delivery of Russian-made S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems to the Turkish side and are negotiating the price and joint production issues, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.

“We are continuing the negotiations on all the issues related to the S-400, including joint production and the price. We have agreed in principle but I can’t say anything on technical issues,” the newspaper Milliyet quoted him as saying.

Turkey will purchase Russia’s anti-aircraft missile systems as it “needs to strengthen its air defense capabilities,” the minister said.

Read More Here: Turkey, Russia clinch agreement on S-400 air defense system deliveries

Sputnik: How Gazprom’s Statement on Turkish Stream Can Boost Moscow-Ankara Cooperation

Russia’s Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said Wednesday that the energy giant will begin the offshore laying of the Turkish Stream pipeline in the second half of 2017 and plans to complete the construction of two legs by the end of 2019.

According to Turkish economic experts interviewed by Sputnik Turkey, the statement of the Russian company can be viewed as a positive signal both for the Turkish economy and for the further development of Russian-Turkish relations.

Given the fact that the statement was made on the eve of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 3, in Sochi, experts believe that this issue will be discussed by the two leaders during their negotiations.

Read More Here: How Gazprom’s Statement on Turkish Stream Can Boost Moscow-Ankara Cooperation