President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heads to Russia this week as part of efforts to rebuild ties shattered by Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane last year -- just as Turkey's relations with traditional allies the United States and Europe show increasing strain amid Ankara's crackdown following a failed coup. One lesson to take away from the improving ties, Hakura said, was that Turkey reacted better to tough responses. "Russia cannot replace the United States and NATO and European Union or European partners .... in relation to Turkey's strategic interests," Hakura said. Yet despite the rhetoric, Turkey's political leadership knows its interests lie more with the West than with Moscow, Hakura said. Our countries have much to do together," Erdogan said in an interview with the Russian state news agency Tass.

Source: Fox News August 08, 2016 09:33 UTC