Turkey Pays off Putin

[airboy]

Erdogan sent a letter of apology to Russia for shooting down a Russian SU-24 bomber back in November.  Turkey also sent compensation to Russia.

This is all in hopes that Russia will end the embargo on Turkish food imports and tourism to Turkey.  There were also sanctions on Turkish construction company work in Russia. 

Although the details of the letter were not released, both Turkey and Russia confirmed the major details (letter of apology & compensation).

Turkey also reestablished full diplomatic relations with Israel.

The Wall St. Journal interpretation was that Turkey was trying to end several feuds with countries in the region that were hurting their economy.   Turkey had also isolated themselves diplomatically in the region.  Story was on page A8 on the 6/28/16 edition.

All of this occurred before the latest terrorist attack in Turkey at their airport.  Turkey suffers a lot of terrorist attacks both from ISIS and the Kurds. 

[Boggit]

I wonder if this is a not so veiled message to the EU?

After all the EU has been very critical of Erdogan's slide towards despotism, such as clamping down on political opponents, gagging the media etc, is generically opposed to Israel over Palestinian rights etc.

Given Putin's pressure on the EU in eastern Europe, particularly in the Ukraine, I'd say Erdogan is signalling a potential shift in alignment to the EU for their criticism of him and his drive towards autocracy in Turkey.

[ComradeP]

I'm more inclined to think this reconciliation is inspired by the economic damage of numerous terrorist attacks cutting down tourism, even before the latest one and the on-going war against the Kurds both in Turkey and across the border. Turkey was becoming politically isolated from the world whilst fighting an invisible enemy (various terrorist groups) and a small scale war it can't win just like its opponent (against the Kurds).

With summer coming up, Turks and foreigners had to be told that Turkey was a country that could maintain good relations with its neighbours and could maintain economic growth in the face of adversity, after a temporary period of decline.

[Boggit]

I'm not totally convinced, but you make a very good point over the tourism. Tourism is a vital industry for Turkey.

That said would you want to want to be taking the family there for your summer holidays? You'd probably be fine. The key word is "probably". Would you take the risk? :-\ Me neither, even if I had the cash to do it.

[ComradeP]

President Putin discouraged the 4.5 million Russians who go to Turkey annually from going after the Turks shot down that Russian jet in November.

The amount of "foreign", presumably European is meant, tourists had decreased by 23% even before the latest terrorist attacks. The number of tourists from the UK and Germany declined by 30%. These would be mostly declines in bookings, with summer just having started.

8% of all jobs and a good 6% of the national income depends on tourism. For the entirety of 2016, an income decline of 40% was expected prior to the latest attack, which means 15 billion dollars less income from tourism.

A man like Erdogan can avoid most difficult questions by his population as long as he creates prosperity. Such big hits in income from tourism would be bad for him.

[Boggit]

+1 Good point. Votes follow the money. O0