Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday in the city of St. Petersburg in Russia. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders following the thawing of tensions over Turkey's downing of a Russian jet late last year.
The attempt to unseat the Turkish President might just be the key to unlocking tensions between two old friends. Months of political punches and provocations over the downing of a Russian Jet by the Turkish air force began to subside following an apology by the Turkish President in June.
A visit to Russia by Turkey's president would have been considered unimaginable just a month ago, but much can change especially when you through an attempted coup in the mix.
And it would appear, Erdogan apology to Putin couldn't have come at a better time.
"The Turkish leadership considers Russia a significant partner, especially with the latest coup attempt on the 15th of July, Putin was one of the first leaders to call Erdogan and he declared unconditional support for the Turkish government, the democratically elected government. And this was very interesting, especially at a time when the responses from Turkey's traditional allies, the European Union and the United States were much more muted," Expert on Russia-Turkey ties Emre Ersen said.
The Turkish president has lashed out at the West for failing to offer that "expected response", even suggesting the US may have had something to do with the coup.
"Does the West support terrorism or not? Does the West side with democracy or the coup or terrorism? Unfortunately the West is supporting terrorism and sides with coups," Erdogan said.
Yet many Western leaders have criticized the government's post-coup purges, which have seen the suspension, detention or arrest of more than 60,000 people.
While this might signal the start of a new shift in Turkish foreign policy, Moscow is seizing the moment by lifting crippling economic sanctions against Ankara.
"Economically, Turkey was definitely struck by the sanction implemented by Russia after Turkish forces shot down the Russian Jet. For example 98% of Russian tourists had been lost, which was a huge number for the Turkish economy. Some very important economic projects such as the Turkish stream natural gas pipeline or Turkey's first nuclear power plant, they had to be postponed," Ersen said.
Yet the two leader's opposing views on the conflict in Syria has the potential of jeopardizing their relationship again.
Ankara is becoming increasingly concerned over Moscow and Washington's mounting support for a Syrian Kurdish group it classifies a terrorist organization and that contentious issues could lead to rematch of political punches.
