The recent rebound in relations couldn’t have proceeded at the pace that it did had it not been for the failed pro-American coup attempt last month. President Erdogan was quick to blame US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for being behind the plot, and some Turkish media sources produced evidence which they claim proves that the US itself had a direct link to what transpired.
With Europe chastising him for ‘cleaning house’ through the arrest and dismissal of tens of thousands of suspected coup sympathizers and with a strong case being made that the US aided and abetted the failed regime change operation, President Erdogan seems to have realized that his only reliable partner is Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
Vladimir Sotnikov, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies and analysis “Russia-East-West” (studio guest); Hasan Selim Ozertem, Security Expert and Researcher at Ankara-based think-tank International Strategic Research Organization (USAK); and Alexander Teddy, Head of Urus Advisory (London office) commented on the issue.
