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Journals / Rouya Türkiyyah / 2026 / Cilt: 11 Sayı: 1

The Intersection of Grand Strategies in Turkey-Russia Relations: Smart Alignment and Flexible Competition

تقاطع العلاقات التركية الروسية: المواءمة الذكية والتنافس المرن

Alperen Kürşad Zengin(MİLLİ SAVUNMA ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-2254-6680
İlyas Topsakal(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-1415-4898
Pages
95–118
Publication Date
2022-01-01
DOI
—
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

We propose that Turkey-Russia relations can best be defined around the concepts of ‘smart alignment’ and ‘flexible competition.’ Their bilateral relations cannot be considered black or white in the abstract, but rather take place in the ‘gray zone.’ Alternative scenarios for the future of bilateral relations are presented in the conclusion.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Evaluating Turkey-Russia relations is a dilemma, as the two countries fluctuate between perceptions of mutual historical hostility and strategic partnership.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The main purpose of this study is to explain the common aspects of the grand strategies of Turkey and Russia within the framework of the pattern and to evaluate the policies of both countries in Syria, Libya, and the South Caucasus where the interests of both intersect and occasional conflict.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:We propose that Turkey-Russia relations can best be defined around the concepts of ‘smart alignment’ and ‘flexible competition.’ Their bilateral relations cannot be considered black or white in the abstract, but rather take place in the ‘gray zone.’ Alternative scenarios for the future of bilateral relations are presented in the conclusion.
🔬Design:Görüntü Sunumu
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Turkey-Russia Relations · Grand Strategy · Smart Alignment

Abstract

Evaluating Turkey-Russia relations is a dilemma, as the two countries fluctuate between perceptions of mutual historical hostility and strategic partnership. An alternative perspective is needed to get beyond the impasse of this dilemma. The main purpose of this study is to explain the common aspects of the grand strategies of Turkey and Russia within the framework of the pattern and to evaluate the policies of both countries in Syria, Libya, and the South Caucasus where the interests of both intersect and occasional conflict. We propose that Turkey-Russia relations can best be defined around the concepts of ‘smart alignment’ and ‘flexible competition.’ Their bilateral relations cannot be considered black or white in the abstract, but rather take place in the ‘gray zone.’ Alternative scenarios for the future of bilateral relations are presented in the conclusion.

🔖

Cite This Article

Zengin, A. K., Topsakal, İ. (2022). The Intersection of Grand Strategies in Turkey-Russia Relations: Smart Alignment and Flexible Competition. Rouya Türkiyyah, Cilt: 11 Sayı: 1, 95–118. https://ajindex.com/articles/1599967

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