Featured Image Credit: Turkish Presidency
Topics: World News, Russia, Vladimir Putin
Jake Massey
Vladimir Putin was given a 'taste of his own medicine' by the Turkish president, who left him waiting awkwardly in front of the assembled media.
The Russian president was in Tehran, Iran, when he was made to wait in front of the assembled press for 50 long seconds before Recep Tayyip Erdoğan finally appeared and offered him a hand shake.
In the video, which has gone viral on social media, 69-year-old Putin can be seen looking rather unimpressed as he shuffles from side to side. As Erdoğan at last approaches, Putin holds his hands out by his sides, as if to say: "About time, mate."
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The moment has been described on Twitter as 'sweet payback' and a 'taste of his own medicine', after Putin left Erdoğan waiting before a meeting in Moscow in 2020.
Putin arrived in Iran yesterday (Tuesday 19 July) for a visit intended to deepen ties with regional heavyweights as part of Moscow's challenge to the United States and Europe amid its war in Ukraine.
In only his second trip abroad since Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine in February, Putin is holding talks with Erdoğan and Iran's president, Ebrahim Raisi, about the pressing issues facing the region, including the conflict in Syria and a UN-backed proposal to resume exports of Ukrainian grain to ease the global food crisis.
Putin is seeking to bolster ties with Tehran, a fellow target of US sanctions and a potential military and trade partner.
In recent weeks, Russian officials visited an airfield in central Iran at least twice to review Tehran's weapons-capable drones for possible use in Ukraine, the White House has alleged.
Erdoğan has sought to help broker talks on a peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as help negotiations to unblock Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
NATO member Turkey has not imposed sanctions on the Kremlin, making it a sorely needed partner for Moscow. Grappling with runaway inflation and a rapidly depreciating currency, Turkey also relies on the Russian market.
The gathering shows off Russia's international clout to its internal audience - even as it grows increasingly isolated and plunges deeper into confrontation with the West.
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