The photos taken during Erdoğan’s meeting with Putin at the Shanghai Summit reveal a lot about Turkey-Russia relations and, beyond that, East-West relations. (Photos: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
The photos taken during Erdoğan’s meeting with Putin at the Shanghai Summit reveal a lot about Turkey-Russia relations and, beyond that, East-West relations. (Photos: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
I obtained the photos from the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Telegram page. They are from the meeting between President Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 1 in Tianjin, China, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held on August 31-September 1. The Russian official photographer captured not only the layout of the meeting table but also the looks the two leaders exchanged during the meeting, and more importantly, the Russian Foreign Ministry also published these photos. Erdoğan’s gaze at Putin and Putin’s gaze at Erdoğan reveal not only the views of two politicians of similar leadership caliber about each other, but also perhaps more than hundreds of articles about the current state of Turkey-Russia relations, which date back over five hundred years.
Don’t eyes tell the truth?
Behavioral psychologists can certainly offer a more professional perspective, but analyzing these two photos through the eyes of a journalist, it is possible to say the following:
– Both leaders are listening to each other, looking into each other’s eyes. They know each other, take each other seriously, and are trying to understand what the other is saying.
– Both leaders have a slight smile on their lips, out of politeness, a bit cautious, and also implying, “I know what you’re trying to do.”
– Both Erdoğan and Putin squint slightly and keep their eyebrows still (I don’t know if it’s the effect of Botox, of course), as if to say, “Things are fine between us for now, but let’s not let our guard down.”
If you want to test what I’m saying with the photos, I have a suggestion. If you examine both Erdoğan’s and Putin’s photos separately, covering the lower and upper halves of their faces, you will see two distinct expressions.
A NATO member in the Eastern Conference
Neither Western admirers, nor Nationalists, nor the ruling party, nor the opposition will like what I am about to write. Still, the most important aspect of Erdoğan’s participation in the Shanghai meeting, even as a “dialogue partner,” is that he is the leader of the only NATO member country, serving as a bridge that could be useful when needed.
Indeed, in his speech at the expanded meeting of the Shanghai Summit, which included observer members and dialogue partners in addition to members, he highlighted Turkey’s geostrategic importance with the description “the most western Asian, the most eastern European.”
Indeed, after the summit, on September 2, Xi planned a tremendous show of force against the “Western Conference” by convening the “Eastern Conference” in Beijing together with Putin. Iranian President Mesud Pezeşkiyan, from one of Shanghai’s observer countries, was already there. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived from Pyongyang in an armored train. They watched a spectacular military parade together, listened to Putin recount his talks with US President Donald Trump, and discussed the Middle East, including Ukraine and Syria.
Israel’s aggressive campaign to destroy and expel Palestinians in Gaza was also mentioned by Putin, host country leader Xi Jinping, and dialogue partner Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Erdoğan also reiterated to the faces of the leaders of Russia and China, permanent members of the UN Security Council, how ineffective the UN had become.
Erdoğan’s contacts and position
It is clear that neither the meeting with Putin nor the meeting with Xi covered earth-shattering issues. The Communications Directorate’s statements regarding the meetings with the Chinese and then Russian leaders say: Let more investment come, let more tourists come, thank you for Ukraine, “You are welcome, we are waiting.” Additionally, discussions on Asia-Europe transportation projects via the “Middle Corridor” with China, energy cooperation with Russia, primarily the Akkuyu nuclear power plant (the first unit of which is planned to generate electricity this year).
It became somewhat apparent in Alaska that the Ukraine issue will now be discussed between Trump and Putin, leaving not only Turkey but also Europe on the sidelines. However, Turkey is still involved in the talks between Russia and Ukraine. This is evident from the emphasis Putin placed on the issue during his meeting with Erdoğan following the recent phone call and the statements made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ultimately, flying the flag is good in itself at such meetings, but the real concern is that the storm will break out in early 2026, centered on Ukraine. It is in Turkey’s interest not to get caught up in this storm.
It is possible to read the signs of this in the way Erdoğan looks at Putin and Putin looks at Erdoğan.
