A Test for Turkey’s Foreign Policy: The Syria Crisis

The Foreign Policy Programme (TESEV) July 2012, 8 p.

Doğan Ertuğrul *

Having erupted in March 2011 and claiming approximately 10,000 civil deaths since, the Syria Crisis, once again, showed how fragile regional alliances are in this part of the Middle East. The resistance against its proactive policy, in turn, shows the limits of Turkey’s foreign policy, which had significantly expanded under the AKP (Justice and Development Party – AKP). In the context of Turkey-Iran relations, this article discusses the impact of the Syria Crisis on Turkey’s foreign policy and the fragile regional balances.

* Doğan Ertuğrul is a journalist. He served as a correspondent in Bulgaria, Bosnia, Greece, and Cyprus between 1994 and 2000. He also worked for Aktüel and Tempo magazines focusing on the Kurdish issue and the Middle East, visiting both Iran and Northern Iraq. He has written articles about the political regime in Iran, and regional relations for various newspapers. He also edited books titled ‘Doğunun Kadın Mirası’ (Women’s Heritage of the East) and ‘Doğulu Yazarların İstanbul’u’ (Eastern Authors’ Istanbul). He currently works as editor in chief at Star Newspaper.

Download full text (Format Pdf)

About these ads