Areas of conflict and cooperation in Turkish-Russian relations after cold war

The relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Russian Federation (formerly the USSR), both of which emerged in the international arena in the first quarter of the 20th century as the predecessors of two ancient imperials, Ottoman and Russian empires, having dominated the world for a while throughout history, have always been of interest for historians and political scientists. As a result of geopolitical and geostrategic conditions, the periods of mutual rapprochement and cooperation between these two competing states are rarely encountered. In fact, considering the historical backgrounds of Turkey and Russia, some external factors, particularly from the West, are usually noted to have hindered the development of good relations between these two 'difficult' and 'enforced' neighbours for sharing a similar geography. The Cold War era, when both countries were in the enemy camps and bilateral relations were very limited, was an unfavourable experience for both Turkey and Russia in many respects. However, the end of the static Cold War period, which was inefficient in terms of cost-benefit for both countries, enabled the relations of them to gain more dynamism and diversity. Even so, this new era during which bilateral relations gained a relative momentum was subjected to different perceptions by Turkish and Russian decision makers. As a result, some ethnic and regional conflicts, caused by the geopolitical space areas following the collapse of the USSR in the regions close to Turkey such as the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia, have delayed the good relations and rapprochement thriving between the two countries. This study examines the threats and opportunities reflected in the Turkish-Russian relations which have gained a relative dynamism and acceleration after the Cold War in two periods within the context of the concepts of 'conflict' and 'cooperation'. One of the main parts of the study, the 1990s, during which the mutual negative perceptions inherited by the Cold War had yet to end in bilateral relations, have been considered as a period of competition and conflict caused by geopolitical risk factors for both Turkey and Russia. On the other hand, the 2000s, when the problem areas between the two countries were resolved or compartmentalized, have been depicted as a period of prevailing effective cooperation rather than conflict in bilateral relations. And it is especially noted that a powerful dialogue and communication network have been established on the leadership levels of the two countries. Key Words: Turkish-Russian Relations, Post-Cold War, Conflict Topics, Cooperation Topics