Opinion | Columnists
Turkey's strategic foreign policy shift
Ankara hopes to boost its stature by acting as a bridge between the Middle East and Europe
- By Mohammad Akef Jamal, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 October 26, 2009
- Image Credit: Illustration: Nino Jose Heredia/Gulf News
Turkish foreign policy took a new turn after the appointment of Ahmad Dawood Oglu as Foreign Minister in May. Oglu, who was previously chief advisor to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has a vision to expand Turkey's role, achieving breakthroughs in the Middle East and Europe.
Historically, Turkey has had strong relations with countries in the Middle East, as well as common cultural and ideological visions. Turkey also has strong ties with Europe, built over the last century, which could allow the country to serve as a bridge between the two regions, geographically, economically and culturally.
No doubt Oglu, the author of the famous book Strategic Depth, has had an important influence on restructuring Turkey's foreign policy, making it far more ambitious.
This change is somewhat surprising, given that the Justice and Development Party has not just come into power in Turkey, nor has it witnessed a change in its leadership. However, US President Barack Obama's change of agenda has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East, especially in relation to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
There are two major issues that trouble Turkey. One is the activities of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), a chronic internal problem that also has some connections to neighbouring countries. The other is obtaining membership of the European Union, which is a purely external affair.
Beyond these issues, Turkey hopes to become a player in European-Middle Eastern rapprochement. The new Turkish inclination is evident in its stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Turkey has condemned Israeli aggression and crimes against Gaza, while Erdogan walked out of the Davos Forum after a shouting match with Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Erdogan also gave a speech at the UN urging the international community to pressurise Israel to come clean on its nuclear programme. At the same time, he has taken a softer stance on Iran, while emphasising the need to rid the Middle East of nuclear weapons.
Turkey also cancelled scheduled joint military manoeuvres with Israeli forces as a result of the latter's crimes in Gaza.
This change in Turkey's stance towards Israel is in line with international sentiment. Israel has been angered, but Turkey has benefited, as many of its neighbours approve. These neighbours are important to Turkey's national security.
Internally, Ankara is keen on isolating the PKK, and closing the routes used by the party's fighters to move between Iraq, Syria and Turkey. In this regard, the great improvement in relations with Syria has been helpful. Things are also looking up with Iraq. In his last visit to Baghdad, Erdogan signed numerous agreements with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki. This will improve Turkey's security, as key PKK bases are located in the northern part of Iraq.
In its efforts to join the European Union, Turkey has been less successful. However, this has not diminished its determination. The European countries have their apprehensions about Turkey, as a result of its huge size and population. These two factors will overburden the well-off countries in the union, which have suffered from the membership of countries that are less advanced, such as Greece, Spain and Portugal.
Turkey is also being pressurised by the EU to make peace with its past by apologising to the Armenians for the massacres it is accused of being responsible for in 1894 and 1896. Taking a step in this direction, Turkey and Armenia signed a historic agreement to normalise relations on October 10, ending a century-long dispute.
A stumbling block that remains, however, is Turkey's culture, which is different to that of the EU's member countries. This may be an undeclared factor for opposing Turkey's membership.
Some may see Turkey's major shift in foreign policy as a decision to turn its back on the West and give up its ambition to be a part of the EU, but this is not the Turkish government's intention. In fact, Turkey hopes to curry favour with the EU by showing that it has an important role to play in the Middle East — a region of great strategic importance.
Dr Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.
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