Şuhnaz Yılmaz: Turkish-Russian Relations in a Turbulent Region

Şuhnaz Yılmaz (Koc University) “Turkish-Russian Relations in a Turbulent Region and the Challenges of Eurasian Energy Politics”

The Crimean crisis and developments in Ukraine has once again brought the shores of the Black Sea and debates about a resurgent Russia’s flexing its muscle into the limelight. In this extremely volatile political context, this public lecture aims to focus on the changing dynamics of Turkish-Russian relations, as well as the energy politics of Eurasia. The current global political economy is characterized by the growing economic interaction of BRICS and near BRICS economies, with emerging powers increasingly exercising greater influence in their neighbouring regions. The growing ties between Turkey and Russia over the past two decades will be critically analyzed in terms of opportunities for cooperation and challenges to the deepening of the strategic partnership. Moreover, the lecture also aims to examine the intricate dynamics of Eurasian energy politics with its broader implications concerning energy security.