TURQUIE PERSPECTIVE

Turkish media cover Russian economic stagnation with the strategic ambivalence characterizing Ankara's position between NATO and Moscow. TRT, the AKP government's voice, minimizes Russian difficulties by highlighting high bilateral Turkish-Russian trade volumes—Turkey has become a re-export hub to Russia, partially circumventing sanctions. Hürriyet notes Russian tourism to Turkey remains massive despite stagnation, injecting billions into Antalya's economy.

Cumhuriyet, Kemalist and more critical, highlights risks of Turkey's growing dependence on Russian financial flows—if American secondary sanctions hit Turkish intermediary banks, Ankara would pay a high price. Daily Sabah frames Russian stagnation as an opportunity for Turkish diplomacy: a weakened Russia is more receptive to Erdogan's mediation.

Turkey's claimed bridge-between-civilizations position is tested: Ankara benefits economically from Russian stagnation (re-exports, tourism, cheap energy) while remaining a NATO member imposing sanctions. Erdogan's transactional diplomacy reaches its limits—the tightrope walk between Moscow and Washington grows increasingly risky.