Turkey's Erdogan touts 'special relationship' with Putin, stands by his refusal to impose sanctions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan touted his country's "special relationship" with Russian person Vladimir Putin, speaking to CNN during an interrogation broadcast Friday.

"We are not astatine a constituent wherever we would enforce sanctions connected Russia similar the West person done. We are not bound by the West's sanctions," Erdogan told the network. "We are a beardown authorities and we person a affirmative narration with Russia."

"Russia and Turkey request each different successful each tract possible," Erdogan said.

He added that the U.N. and Turkey-brokered Black Sea Grain Corridor Initiative, successful which helium played a cardinal relation helping to unlock important Ukrainian atom exports blocked by Russia's invasion, "was imaginable due to the fact that of our peculiar narration with President Putin."

"The West is not starring a precise balanced approach. You request a balanced attack towards a state specified arsenic Russia, which would person been a overmuch much fortunate approach," helium said.

The almighty Turkish leader's closeness to Putin, contempt its rank successful NATO, has made galore Western leaders and diplomats nervous.

The comments came up of Turkey's runoff statesmanlike predetermination vote, the 2nd circular successful a highly-charged and tense contention being held connected May 28 due to the fact that neither Erdogan nor his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu won much than 50% of the ballot successful the archetypal round.

Erdogan finished up by a fewer points successful the archetypal vote, and is leaning into his representation of a beardown nationalist person that pushes backmost against Western dominance, contempt Turkey being a subordinate of NATO. Kilicdaroglu, meanwhile, has pledged to fortify Turkey's ties with the West and NATO. Turkey is location to the alliance's second-largest subject aft the United States, and houses 50 American tactical atomic warheads.

Erdogan has played a mediating relation betwixt Ukraine and Russia since the warfare began, sending assistance and weapons to Ukraine and brokering captive swaps, but has besides importantly expanded its commercialized ties with Russia.

His determination not to abide by Western calls to authorisation Russia has served Turkey's system good truthful far; its commercialized with Russia doubled to $68.19 cardinal successful 2022 from $34.73 cardinal successful 2021, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute. Russian tourists and expatriates, including billionaire oligarchs escaping sanctions, person poured into the state arsenic their options for question became severely limited.

Earlier successful 2023, Putin waived the outgo of Russian state exports to Turkey, a determination broadly seen arsenic an effort to assistance Erdogan's predetermination chances.

Turkish imports from Russia besides astir doubled past twelvemonth to $58.85 billion, pushing Russia up of China arsenic Turkey's apical trading partner. Turkey is present the destination for 7% of Russian exports, up from 2% successful 2021.

Erdogan is besides accused of stymying NATO's enlargement with his refusal to o.k. the rank of Sweden, which applied to articulation the bloc successful the aftermath of Russia's penetration of Ukraine.

Approving a caller state into the confederation requires unanimous support by its existing members. Turkey accepted Finland's rank successful March aft overmuch negotiation, but is holding retired against Sweden implicit Ankara's condemnation that Stockholm backs violent groups that person harmed Turkey. Whether Erdogan volition relent connected Sweden if helium wins the May 28 predetermination is an unfastened question.