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Turkey is one of the most important countries in the Middle East to make an alliance with. The European Union has been trying to make a deal with Turkey to stem the influx of refugees into Europe. Turkey is also an ally of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria, Iraq, and Libya. Turkey is an important strategic partner of the gulf countries in their bid to topple the Assad regime in Syria. Turkey is one of the top military powers in the Middle East.
When Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan chooses to visit Russia and Vladimir Putin just after a failed coup attempt last month raised eyebrows and palpitated hearts in the West. The two men had been at loggerheads since early 2015 when Turkish warplane downed a Russian jet that led to a diplomatic escalation. However, in recent days, the relations have warned after Mr. Erdogan apologized and expressed his grief to Mr. Putin for that incident and it was revealed that it was Ahmet Davutoğlu, the former Prime Minister who ordered for the shoot down of the jet.
On the other side of the equation, the relationship with the West got strained after the coup. Turkey blamed Fethullah Gulen, a preacher, former Imam, writer and the political who stays in the U.S. in a self-imposed exile as the brain behind the coup attempt. The United States has refused to extradite Gulen without proper evidence. Europe on the other hand, have criticized Erdogan for his cleansing operations after the failed coup attempt, in which more than 60,000 people from education industry, military, doctors, and public servant have either been detained, suspended.
Now, a visit by Mr. Erdogan to meet Putin has raised the prospect that two countries could cooperate on issues in the Middle East. Putin could tone down his support for Kurdish Militia in exchange for support for Russian-backed Assad government in Syria.
