Turkey’s Caucasus Policies in the Framework of Ankara’s New Foreign Policy

Caucasus Analytical Digest, No. 30, 28 October 2011, p. 5-7
No 30: Emerging Regional Powers: Turkey and Iran in the South Caucasus

By Nigar Göksel *, Istanbul

In recent years, Turkey has sought to diversify its foreign policy away from the West to focus more on neighboring regions by becoming a regional economic power, energy hub and using its Islamic credentials. The Middle East, where global attention has also been relatively more centered, has been more important than the Caucasus in the last decade of Turkey’s foreign policy. Turkey’s improved ties with Russia have disappointed allies in both the West and Georgia. Similarly, Turkey’s leaders shelved their overtures to Armenia when they foreseeably ran into opposition from the Azerbaijanis and domestic public opinion. Rather than turn away from the Caucasus, Turkey should pursue more consistent and long term policies that make it possible to achieve its goals of open borders, resolved conflicts, soft power and economic interdependence.

* Nigar Goksel is the Editor-in-Chief of Turkish Policy Quarterly.

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