The Turkish factor in Greek-Russian relations in the 2010s

Abstract

The second decade of the 21st century was a difficult time for both Russia, Greece, and Turkey. Greece was plagued by a deep financial and economic crisis, Russia faced a series of external political challenges, including sanctions imposed by the US and EU, and Turkey’s relations with the West also grew tense. This chapter examines the economic dimension of Greek-Russian relations in the 2010s, focusing specifically on the influence of the “Turkish factor”, which, in many aspects — from international military cooperation to tourism — is impossible to ignore. The influence of Turkey can hardly be described unequivocally as either positive or negative: Russo-Turkish and Greek-Turkish issues have indirectly fostered Greek-Russian cooperation in some areas, while hindering its development in others.