that it had violated Turkish airspace. This international incident has led to an intense

standoff between Russia and Turkey, with neither side willing to acknowledge any blame. Although

the two decided against going to war, Russia has since ordered economic sanctions against

Turkey, and will likely cancel a multibillion dollar gas pipeline. Aggression between these

countries is not new, as the two have been engaged in conflict since at least the 16th

century. So, why do Russia and Turkey hate each other?

Well, their negative relations date back to when Russia was still ruled by czars, and

Turkey was still the massive Ottoman Empire. The two Eastern empires were split geographically

by the Black Sea and ideologically by cultural identity. Russia had been Christianized since

the beginning of the millennium, while the Ottoman Empire was predominantly Islamic.

From 1568 until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, the two fought as many as

a dozen wars, considered one of the longest series of conflicts in European history. Russia

emerged victorious in almost all of them.

The collapse of the Ottoman Empire reduced it to a smaller Turkish Republic while Russia

underwent it’s own revolution. This led the two countries towards friendly relations

with the 1921 Treaty of Moscow, and a 1925 nonaggression pact. But the peace was short

lived. By 1936, Turkey controlled important territory connecting the Black Sea to the

Mediterranean, and refused to give the Soviet Union free access to the region. This was

further complicated by World War Two, when Turkey was neutral but friendly with Nazi

Germany. Around the end of the war, the Soviet Union withdrew from their non aggression pact,

pushing Turkey to join NATO by 1952. The two were completely and directly opposed up until

the end of the 20th century.

But despite a long history of mostly negative relations, the fall of the Soviet Union in

1991 prompted a renewal of cooperation. A treaty the following year began a rebuilding

process, culminating in close economic ties by 2009. Huge investments on both sides, and

numerous energy deals have led to billions of dollars flowing between the two countries.

A planned gas pipeline, as well as a Russian nuclear power plant in Turkey had many hopeful

that economic cooperation could help mend their historical animosity.

But the November 2015 airplane shoot-down has completely halted friendly relations.

Russia has ended communication with Turkey’s military, stopped charter flights into the

country, and referred to Turkey as a supporter of terrorism. Russia also bombed rebels in

Syria, intentionally close to the Turkish border. Turkey’s President, in turn, has

maintained that they were within their rights to protect their territory. Nonetheless, he

expressed regret over the shooting. As this tense situation progresses, it threatens to

reignite the historical, neighborly rivalry between Russia and Turkey.

Now you know about the tensions between Russia and Turkey, but do you know how powerful they

each are individually? Watch the video at the top to learn more about Russia. If you

want to learn more about Turkey’s national power, watch the video at the bottom. Thanks

for watching TestTube News! Be sure to subscribe so you can keep up with more of our videos.