国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Analysts say Erdogans foreign visits not likely to trigger policy reset_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Analysts say Erdogans foreign visits not likely to trigger policy reset

On the economic front, Turkey expects Russia to lift sanctions on some Turkish agricultural products, a measure Russia imposed in 2017 after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Turkish-Syrian border.

Turkey has recently retaliated by stopping import of some produce, such as wheat, from Russia.

On the military front, Turkey is planning to purchase S-400 air defense system from Russia.

The sale of the sophisticated air defense missiles may be finalized depending on the progress of the talks between the two leaders, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said last Sunday.

Cahit Armagan Dilek, director of the Ankara-based 21st Century Turkey Institute think tank, is not optimistic about the deal to be finalized.

Both Turkey and Russia will simply use the S-400 negotiations as a trump card against the West, he told Xinhua.

Under U.S. and NATO pressure, Turkey gave up buying a similar missile defense system from China in 2017.

Erdogan will travel to China for the Belt and Road Forum on International Cooperation to be held in Beijing on May 14-15, where the president is scheduled to meet with some foreign leaders.

Dilek believes that Erdogan may use the summit in Beijing to boost his declining prestige by showing he entertains close ties with leaders around the world.

In recent years, Erdogan has been more and more described in the Western media as a dictator due to allegations of increasing authoritarianism. He dismisses the claim, saying he is so named as he speaks up against tyrants.