Russia post in Turkey year 1918 – Overprint ROPIT MNH / MH

Russia post in Turkey year 1918 – Overprint ROPIT MNH / MH

Russia maintained a significant presence in Turkey, particularly due to the complex geopolitical dynamics of the time, including the decline of the Ottoman Empire and Russian ambitions in the region. Russia and the Ottoman Empire had a long history of diplomatic interactions, often marked by rivalry and conflict. In 1900, Russia had established diplomatic missions in various cities across the Ottoman Empire, including Istanbul (then Constantinople), the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Russia viewed the Ottoman Empire as a declining power and sought to expand its influence in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and other regions traditionally under Ottoman control. The strategic location of the Ottoman Empire, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, made it a focal point for Russian geopolitical ambitions. Russia and the Ottoman Empire engaged in trade relations, although these were often influenced by political tensions and rivalries. Russian merchants and traders operated in various Ottoman cities, contributing to commercial exchanges between the two empires.