The conference entitled “Turkey, Russia and the West: Historical Perspectives, Current Dynamics, and Future Prospects” was jointly organised by IKV and the Istanbul Policy Center on 21 February 2020. Leading scholars and experts held an in-depth discussion on the foreign policy, defence, trade and energy dimensions of Turkish-Russian relations and the role of the West.

IKV Vice-Chair Prof. Halûk Kabaalioğlu and IPC Director Prof. Fuat Keyman delivered the opening speeches of the conference. Underscoring the gravity of the situation in Syria in his opening speech, IKV Vice-Chair Prof. Kabaalioğlu highlighted the urgent need to find a solution to the ongoing crisis in Syria. He also provided a historical overview of the relations between Turkey and Russia and stated that according to a recent public opinion poll, Russia was seen as Turkey’s top political and economic partner. For his part Prof. Keyman emphasised the striking rapprochement between Turkey and Russia. While stating that Turkey’s relations with Russia had at times worked at the expense of its ties with the West, Prof. Keyman said that Turkey’s relations with the West recently intensified as a result of the Idlib crisis.

The first panel session providing a historical overview of the relations since imperial times was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Evren Balta from Özyeğin University. Speaking at the panel, Assoc. Prof. Michael Reynolds from Princeton University discussed whether Turkey and Russia could escape the legacy of their conflictual relations. Asst. Prof. Onur İşçi from Bilkent University talked about Turkish-Soviet relations in the interwar period and after WWII. Analysing Turkish-Soviet relations in 1960s-70s, Assoc. Prof. Behlül Özkan from Marmara University stated that despite being a NATO ally Turkey was the top recipient of Soviet aid. Prof. Mitat Çelikpala from Kadir Has University underlined that divergence of interests over the East Mediterranean, Black Sea and the Caucasus showed the limits of cooperation.

The second panel session on key issues in Turkish-Russian relations was moderated by Soli Özel from Kadir Has University.  Dr. Can Kasapoğlu from the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM) analysed Turkish-Russian relations in the context of the Syrian crisis and the situation on the ground. Kadir Has University Center for Energy and Sustainable Development Director Prof. Volkan Ediger discussed Turkish-Russian energy relations while Assoc. Prof. Tolga Demiryol from Altınbaş University analysed Turkish-Russian trade relations and Asst. Prof. Habibe Özdal from Okan University talked about the vulnerabilities in the relations.

The third panel session dealing with the future of the relations and the possible responses from the West was moderated by Aslı Aydıntaşbaş from IPC and Stiftung Mercator. Galip Dalay from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) underscored the non-instiutionalised and personalised nature of Turkish-Russian cooperation in the context of the Syrian crisis and stated that it was the result of political realism. Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs Fyodor Lukyanov stressed that Turkey was perceived as an extremely important player in Russia and highlighted the rational nature of Turkish-Russian relations. IPC Senior Scholar and Research and Academic Affairs Coordinator Prof. Senem Aydın-Düzgit approached Turkish-Russian relations from EU’s perspective while EDAM Director Sinan Ülgen talked about Turkish-Russian relations and the current situation in Syria.

The conference ended with closing remarks by IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas and IPC Senior Scholar and Research and Academic Affairs Coordinator Prof. Senem Aydın-Düzgit.