When Turkey shot down a Russian jet in November, it probably did not expect the backlash to be so severe. However, Russia was not going to take the incident lightly, and promptly started imposing a series of aggressive measures to effectively punish Turkey for its actions.
Unsurprisingly, the relationship between the two nations has deteriorated. So in the wake of the fiasco, here are five ways Russia is making life difficult for Turkey.
1. Turkey will face a cold winter if Russia cuts off its gas supply
Russia is in a strong position over Turkey for a number of reasons, but natural gas is arguably the most important. Being Turkey’s largest supplier of natural gas, Russia has the potential to cause chaos for Turkey’s energy supply. Turkey appears to be aware of this, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying that “it is possible to find different suppliers.”
2. Russians will find it hard to holiday in Turkey
Last year and estimated 3.2 million Russians visited Turkey, making it the most popular destination for Russian travelers. However, in the wake of the downing of jet, Russia banned package tours to Turkey. This will likely have a huge effect on Turkey’s tourism industry.
3. Turkish fruit and veg may no longer grace Russian supermarket shelves
According to Russian officials, controls over food imports from Turkey will be tightened. The reason cited was alleged frequent safety violations, with Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev saying that 15 percent of Turkish agricultural produce does not meet Russian standards.
4. Restrictions on Turkish fabric mean no anti-Turkey shirts
Deliveries of Turkish fabric to Russia have been delayed due to the ongoing tensions, which has left manufacturers without material they rely on. In fact, local media reported that shirts bearing anti-Turkey slogans could not be produced because the designer could not get a hold of Turkish fabric.
5. Charter flights banned
Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian prime minister, reportedly ordered the ban of all charter flights to Turkey from Dec. 1. Only those carrying Russian tourists back to Russia from Turkey would be allowed, according to reports. Regular air travel between the two nations will also be subject to extra scrutiny to ensure security.
