Putin meets Turkish President

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 04 Sep 2023 by Alex Teddy
On September 4 he met Erdogan in Sochi, Russia. The meeting had originally been planned to take place in Turkey but the Russians insisted on hosting it. Erdogan wants to convince Putin to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI). Russia said it will only revive the deal if sanctions on Russian agriculture are lifted. Russian food is not banned but Russian farming cannot buy tools or raise funding in the West, nor can shipments be insured in the West. EU and NATO countries show no inclination to meet Russia's demands.  The BSGI benefitted Turkey. Putin said he is willing to discuss restarting BSGI. Russia has suggested that Russia sell a million tons of grain to Turkey outside the auspices of the BSGI, and this would then be distributed to the neediest countries. Qatar would fund the deal. Turkey buys a lot of liquid natural gas from Russia and is very keen that this keep coming. The Turks will presumably ask Russia not to do anything to support the Armenians. The Armenian Prime Minister said on September 1 his country was too reliant on Russia for defense. This was the first face to face meeting between the two presidents since 2022. Erdogan said he wants Ukraine to join NATO. Russia is not happy about this. Ukrainian membership of NATO will not happen for at least several years, if ever. Erdogan was narrowly re-elected in May 2023. It is thought that Putin helped him by delaying gas payments; Turkey really needed this respite during a sharp economic downturn. Erdogan said the two countries have a special relationship. Relations between Turkey and other NATO countries have deteriorated over the last few years. Some think that Erdogan is trying to improve them. But ...

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