Turkey Faces Competing Pressures from Russia and the West to end its ‘Middleman Strategy’ and Pick a Side on the War in Ukraine

From the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Turkey has performed a delicate balancing act, portraying itself as an ally to the warring sides while reaping economic and political benefits from its relationship with both. Turkey has condemned Russia’s invasion and extended diplomatic and material assistance to Ukraine’s war efforts. At the same time, the country’s leader, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has pointedly opted not to join the Western-led sanctions against Russia or cut ties with Moscow. Erdoğan’s balancing act is meeting with growing impatience in Washington and Moscow, but this does not necessarily signal its demise.