Erdogan uses “seafood diplomacy” with “best friend” Putin?
(Baonghean.vn) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan may soon discuss the deal to buy S-400 air defense systems while enjoying fish or lobster together. According to information from RT on August 25, Mr. Putin received an invitation to attend a meeting at a restaurant in the capital Istanbul.
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| Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: Reuters |
Mr. Erdogan's invitation to Mr. Putin, sent through Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday, read: "Your best friend, Mr. Erdogan, wishes to send you his greetings and best wishes. He is looking forward to your visit to Istanbul in the near future. You have an appointment at a seafood restaurant."
This invitation was mentioned by Mr. Cavusoglu when speaking before the Russian leader during a summit meeting in Moscow.
The “seafood restaurant” incident recalls the BRICS summit in July, when Putin reminded his Turkish counterpart that Erdogan had once invited him to a seafood restaurant. When Erdogan insisted that the invitation was still valid, the Russian president said that the issue of meat exports to Turkey had to be sorted out first.
It seems Mr. Erdogan got the hint: Russia started exporting meat to Türkiye at the end of July—so now he can actually hold the meeting at the seafood restaurant.
Relations between Russia and Türkiye have become increasingly close, which appears to have angered Ankara’s longtime ally, the United States. Relations between Ankara and Washington have been on a downward spiral as the two sides have argued over Türkiye’s decision to purchase Russian S-400 missile systems ahead of schedule. Erdogan’s government has also been pushing ahead with its purchase of American F-35 jets, which US lawmakers are trying to block in light of Ankara’s S-400 purchase.
Earlier this week, Russia’s arms exporter Rosoboronexport revealed that Türkiye would receive its first shipment of S-400 air defense systems next year. Following the announcement, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert noted that the US had “made it very clear that it could trigger sanctions against other countries and entities around the world” if they continued to purchase the Russian systems.
