In this essay for The Atlantic, Elliot Ackerman examines the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov at a photography exhibit in Ankara titled “Russia Through Turks’ Eyes.”
Ackerman places the killing within the broader context of Turkish-Russian tensions, the Syrian Civil War, the fall of Aleppo, and a year marked by terrorist attacks across Europe and the Middle East.
Assassination and Geopolitical Tension
The essay explores how Mevlut Mert Altintas’s attack reflected the volatile overlap of local grievance, regional war, terrorism, and international diplomacy.
Turkey, Russia, and Syria
Ackerman examines the fragile relationship between Turkey and Russia, including their opposing roles in Syria and their recent attempt to repair relations after the downing of a Russian jet.
The Risk of Escalation
At its center, the piece warns that in a period of global instability, seemingly isolated acts of violence can carry dangerous geopolitical consequences.