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This is indeed interesting; Turkey's state-run TRT broadcaster has launched a new Russian digital platform 'to combat disinformation and manipulation'. Some thoughts on why this is important. https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-russia-media-erdogan/30631868.html
Last year at @EdamOrg , we published thus far the largest and the most comprehensive Russian disinformation study in Turkey, studying multiple events across several years, producing a vast dataset of what Russia has been up to in Turkey since 2014
This report had conclusively demonstrated how Russian disinformation attempts in Turkey were very different than its 'in-your-face' ops in the US and Europe. Russian info ops in Turkey have been much subtler, harder to detect, but also very context-specific
Russian ability to outmanoeuvre Turkey in the information war was demonstrated soon after the shooting down of the Russian jet in late-2015 via Moscow-made 'Turkey buys ISIS oil' media blitz, which other NATO countries ate up like candy through 2016 https://twitter.com/AkinUnver/status/1113094262969827333
Although the allegation was dismissed by the Pentagon later as 'preposterous' ( https://www.nbcnews.com/video/pentagon-rejects-preposterous-idea-that-turkey-is-aiding-isis-oil-trade-577939523771) repeated Russian info ops had successfully brought the issue up to the list of main agenda items in most NATO news ecosystems.
One major outlet that continued to push that narrative was Breitbart ( https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/12/12/erdogan-and-the-islamic-state-oil-trade-is-turkey-funding-terrorism/) although following Pentagon's rejection, the allegation had disappeared from the US and UK media ecosystems.
Our report digs very deep into each major case in TR-RUS relations, including the assassination of Amb. Karlov, failed coup attempt in 2016, S400 procurement negotiations, Turkey's 2018 general elections, and finds that Russia was less interested in 'internal' matters in Turkey
Rather, it draws clear wedges between Turkey and NATO (and among other NATO countries as well) to assert the case that even back in 2015, a) Turkey wouldn't be able to compete with Russia in disinfo domain, b) NATO allies would do absolutely nothing to bolster disinfo defences
So in a self-help scenario where there is direct Russian confrontation in the information ecosystem with practically no support from NATO, Turkey does what any insulator country usually do in the absence of alliance commitment; bandwagoning https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/21/russia-has-won-the-information-war-in-turkey-rt-sputnik-putin-erdogan-disinformation/
As far as election meddling, failed coup meddling or even assassination of Karlov is concerned, Russia stays out. On issues related to Russian jets, S400s and other foreign policy issues we observe clear gravitation into a more pro-Russian discourse in TR. https://twitter.com/AkinUnver/status/1264997723364831237
So I think the opening of TRT-Russian is pretty significant because it demonstrates that:
a) Turkey now publicly defines Russian language news as 'disinformation and manipulation',
b) Turkey has gone into the information offensive,
c) Both are important signals of alignment.
a) Turkey now publicly defines Russian language news as 'disinformation and manipulation',
b) Turkey has gone into the information offensive,
c) Both are important signals of alignment.
Is this major strategic alignment? No idea; probably nobody knows. I wouldn't trust anyone who'd claim to know unless they are a president. But our
@EdamOrg report explains lots vis. the information war aspect of things. Here's the link to the full study https://edam.org.tr/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Ak%C4%B1n-%C3%9Cnver-Russian-Digital-Media.pdf
@EdamOrg report explains lots vis. the information war aspect of things. Here's the link to the full study https://edam.org.tr/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Ak%C4%B1n-%C3%9Cnver-Russian-Digital-Media.pdf
