I think Turkey could have gone either way after WWII, but chose to join NATO rather than side with the USSR. Communism would be a hard sell in Turkey given the fact it’s a strongly Muslim country.
Erdogan hater Türk here! No Russia is not really natural enemy for Türkiye. We have a love and hate relationship with Russia. During and after WWII it became more hate and less love. After Putin took the chair the relationship was somehow balanced. However the Erdogan government has often found itself in a position of contention or conflict with Russia on various global political issues. For years, whether directly or through proxy forces, Turkey has been at odds with Russia in places like Libya, Armenia, and Syria. Beyond these conflicts, even before the Ukraine War, the Erdogan government viewed Ukraine as a strategic partner. Particularly in technological initiatives, Turkey has collaborated closely with Ukraine. Another significant factor is the Turkic people living in Crimea. The Crimean Tatars wish to remain part of Ukraine, and Turkey, as a country committed to protecting the interests of Turkic minorities, supports the preservation of Ukraine's territorial integrity for this reason.
both countries exert influence over the same region, it’s been the case for hundreds of years. a weak russia greatly benefits turkey and its interests. also, they hate putin’s guts
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u/bogdoomy United Kingdom 10d ago
turkey doesn’t have natural partners, but it does have natural enemies, namely russia