As Turkey strengthens it's relationship with Iran and Syria it is also building a relationship with economic powerhouses like Russia. It will be very hard to leverage Turkey with E.U. membership.
Turkey's growing strategic importance as a gas transporter is the focus of talks in Russia between the countries' leaders.
Turkish PM Recep Tayip Erdogan met Russia's president and PM in Moscow, with energy high on the agenda.
The Turkish government recently agreed to support Russian plans for a major new gas pipeline - South Stream - across the Black Sea into Europe.
