Is energy the cause of asymmetric attacks on Turkey? - YENI ŞAFAK

29 December 2016
Erdal Tanas Karagöl

The 21st century is the century of natural gas. Many countries with natural gas resources are located in the north, east and south of Turkey. Therefore, Turkey is a country that has strategic significance in energy.

Turkey stands out in the energy field in its region, as it is a bridge between hydrocarbon reserves in the Middle East, the Caspian region and the Mediterranean, and European countries, the largest consuming countries, and as it ensures its own energy supply security.

Turkey's strategic position among countries that have natural gas resources and that consume natural gas offers significant advantages in terms of being both a corridor and a trade center in energy. For the first time, Turkey is at the point of turning the cost it has shouldered in this region for years into an advantage.

Russia, Turkey sign gas pipeline deal, talk Syria - DW

10.10.2016, Chase Winter

Turkey and Russia have signed a deal to build a major gas pipeline under the Black Sea. A gradual rapproachment since a falling out last year shows the two can pursue a pragmatic relationship.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday took steps to reconcile differences following a severe deterioration of relations between the two countries earlier this year.

Putin arrived in Istanbul for the World Energy Congress, his first visit to the country since Turkey downed a Russian jet along the Syrian border last November, triggering a crisis. Turkey apologized for the jet incident in June, leading to a gradual improvement in relations and Moscow clawing back damaging sanctions on the Turkish economy.

Rapprochement between Russia and Turkey - DW

09.10.2016, Author Mikhail Bushuev

What have been the most important stages in the recent history of Russian-Turkish relations? DW presents the major milestones.

On Monday (10.10.2016) the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, will visit Turkey. This visit was unimaginable just a few weeks ago. Between November of last year and June of this, and despite years spent forging a successful relationship between Turkey and post-Soviet Russia, Ankara and Moscow were in a state of cold war. DW looks back on their history over the past 25 years.

1. The end of the Soviet Union, and small businesses

Rapprochement between post-Soviet Russia and Turkey was swift. There was great demand in Russia for Western-style fashions, and small Turkish businesses stepped up to meet it. Cheap clothing from Turkey soon conquered the Russian markets. Turkish companies quickly found a niche in the Russian construction industry, and the 1997 agreement to supply gas via the Blue Stream pipeline also provided a strong stimulus.