Turkey offers to join forces with Russia for anti-ISIS strikes

Recep Erdogan and Vladimir Putin. — (Image credit: IVAN SEKRETAREV/AFP/Getty Images)

Turkey has extended an offer to Russia to carry out joint anti-Islamic State strikes in Syria just days after Turkish President Recep Erdogan visited St. Petersburg to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The offer indicates easing tensions between the nations after Turkish forces shot down a Russian warplane along the Syrian border nine months ago.

"On the issue of [ISIS], we have made a call to Russia. We said we have a common enemy which we can struggle against together," Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.