Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A Neighborhood Rediscovered
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing
from the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). Please direct inquiries to:
About GMF
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a non-partisan American public policy and grant-making institu-
tion dedicated to promoting greater cooperation and understanding between North America and Europe.
GMF does this by supporting individuals and institutions working on transatlantic issues, by convening leaders to discuss
the most pressing transatlantic themes, and by examining ways in which transatlantic cooperation can address a variety of
global policy challenges.
Founded in 1972 through a gift from Germany as a permanent memorial to Marshall Plan assistance, GMF maintains a
strong presence on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition to its headquarters in Washington, DC, GMF has seven offices in
Europe: Berlin, Bratislava, Paris, Brussels, Belgrade, Ankara, and Bucharest.
March 2010
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
The Sea Change in Turkey’s Middle Eastern Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Conflicting Interpretations of the Sea Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Realizing Turkey’s Middle Eastern Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Kemal Kirişci is a fellow with the Transatlantic Academy. He is a professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at
*
Boğaziçi University, Istanbul and holds a Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration.
Nathalie
Tocci is a fellow with the Transatlantic Academy. She is a senior fellow at the Istituto Affari Internazionali, Rome; associate fellow at the
Centre for European Policy Studies, Brussels; and associate editor of The International Spectator.
Joshua
Walker is a fellow with the Transatlantic Academy. He is a Ph.D. doctoral candidate in politics and public policy at Princeton University
focusing on international relations and security studies. Mr. Walker is also a fellow of the Pacific Council on International Policy, a former fellow
at the Council on Foreign Relations, and a graduate fellow at the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination and Bradley Foundation.
The
Transatlantic Academy is an initiative of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius of
Germany, the Robert Bosch Stiftung, and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. In addition, the Academy has received funding from the
Transatlantic Program of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through funds of the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. Additional support from the Compagnia di San Paolo is gratefully acknowledged.
1 Introduction
The recent activism in Turkish foreign policy has nature. Turkish foreign policy, particularly under
caused political waves throughout Europe, the the influence of current Minister of Foreign Affairs
Middle East, and the United States. In attempting Ahmet Davutoğlu, conceptualizes Turkey as a
to decipher Turkey’s foreign policy trajectory, central country in the midst of Afro-Eurasia, which
many have focused on Turkey’s activism in the attempts to pursue what it calls “zero problems”
Middle East. Yet this is not new. At different points with its neighbors. It encourages bilateral and
in time, Turkey opted to engage the Middle East. multilateral external relations, and it uses the
However its interventions in the past played into country’s Ottoman heritage as a foreign policy Turkey’s promise
the balance of power logic of the Arab/Soviet versus asset. The stated goal of Turkish foreign policy is to in the region
Israeli/American conflict, oscillating between one transform Turkey into a strong regional, and even hinges on its
side and the other, albeit more frequently on the global, actor through the exercise of soft power.
consistent pursuit
side of the latter. With the end of the Cold War,
To what extent is this truly occurring? How can of democratization
Turkey’s activism translated into assertiveness and
we interpret the transformation of Turkey’s policy at home and
confrontation. While Turkey’s military relationship
with Israel rallied favor in the West, Turkey made toward the Middle East? Most importantly, under a norm-based
the Middle East an even more unstable and crisis- what conditions does Turkey’s new role represent foreign policy
prone region through confrontational relations an asset for Turkey, the Middle East, the United abroad.
with Iraq, Iran, and Syria.1 More widely, Turkey States, and the European Union?
believed it was “besieged by a veritable ring of The traditional manner to study current
evil,”2 fueling counter-alliances between Syria, Iran, developments in Turkish foreign policy is to
Iraq, Greece, Russia, Serbia, and Armenia.3 Şükrü assess the areas in which Turkey converges and
Elekdağ, a retired ambassador and former deputy also where it diverges from the policies pursued
undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, advocated
by the European Union and the United States.
in the mid 1990s that Turkey should prepare
Adopting an alternative and innovative approach
to fight “two-and-a-half wars” simultaneously
this paper does not view Turkey’s “distinctiveness”
against Greece, Syria, and the Kurdistan Workers in the Middle East as necessarily detrimental to
Party (PKK).4 the West, but rather argues that it could represent
In sharp contrast, Turkey’s activism in the Middle an important asset to its European and American
East in the 21st century has a distinctly different partners. Yet Turkey’s potential in the Middle East
does not automatically translate into practice.
Turkey’s promise in the region hinges on its
Makovsky, Alan (1999).“The New Activism in Turkish Foreign
1 consistent pursuit of democratization at home and
Policy.” SAIS Review, Vol. 19, No.1, pp. 92–113. a norm-based foreign policy abroad. In addition,
2
Former Turkish Ambassador Şükrü Elekdağ in 1996 quoted Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
in Mufti, Malik (1998). “Daring and Caution in Turkish Foreign
Policy.” Middle East Journal, Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 32–50, p. 34. can only be fulfilled if the EU proceeds with
3
In the mid-1990s, Greece, Armenia, and Iran held annual Turkey’s accession process in good faith and the
foreign ministers meetings, and Greece and Syria signed an United States partners with Turkey in the region to
agreement in 1995 regarding Greek use of Syrian airbases.
encourage Turkey’s EU prospects and reforms.
4
Elekdağ, Şükrü (1996). “2 1/2 War Strategy.” Perceptions:
Journal of International Affairs (Ankara), Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 33–57.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 3
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
2 The Sea Change in Turkey’s Middle
Eastern Policies
Turkish foreign policy today is undoubtedly far through agreements in 2007 and 2008. Bilateral
more proactive and multi-dimensional than at any trade has soared8 and Turkey has attempted to
period in Turkey’s republican history. This paper penetrate the Iranian market through investments
begins by cursorily mapping the transformation in several sectors. Social contact has also deepened,
in Turkey’s Middle Eastern policies, focusing on and Turkey’s liberal visa regime attracts more
Turkey’s ties with Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel- than one million Iranian visitors per year. Yet the
Palestine and its mediation initiatives in the region. most significant turn relates to the security and
The fallout for political realms. Tensions have waned regarding
Turkey of an Israeli Improving relations with (almost) all political Islam to the extent that in June 2002
neighbors the then-staunchly secularist Turkish President
nuclear attack on
Iran or an Iranian Ahmet Necdet Sezer visited Iran and delivered
Particularly since the 1979 Iranian revolution,
nuclear attack on a lecture on Kemalism and Atatürk.9 More so,
Turkish-Iranian relations have been marked by
Israel would be tension over cooperation. Tension never threatened the Kurdish question now represents an area of
an outbreak of conflict, and the centuries-old convergent interests, triggering Turkish-Iranian
equally disastrous.
Turkish-Iranian border is often flagged as an security cooperation. Improving Turkish-Iranian
atypical instance of Middle Eastern stability.5 Yet ties explain Turkey’s distinctive position regarding
the Iranian nuclear question. Turkey, like European
bilateral relations have been strained over the
Union countries and the United States, objects to a
two questions lying at the heart of republican
nuclear Iran. Yet, unlike its Western allies, it does
Turkey’s security dilemma—political Islam and the
not feel as threatened by Iran’s nuclear program
Kurdish question. On both counts, the 1990s saw a
much in the same way that it has not felt directly
considerable aggravation of relations,6 with growing
Turkish sensitivity toward alleged Iranian attempts threatened by Israel’s nuclear arsenal. This lower
to “export” the Islamic revolution, Turkish- threat perception is shared by the public, which
Iranian competition in the Caucasus, and Iranian disapproves of coercive measures on Iran and
accusations against Turkey of inciting separatism a sizeable minority appears to accept more the
among its Azeri minority and harboring the prospect of a nuclear Iran (29 percent) compared
Mujahedeen al-Khalq.7 This is not to say Turkish- to EU and U.S. publics (8 percent and 5 percent,
Iranian relations ground to a standstill in those respectively).10 But Turkey does feel threatened
by a nuclear arms race between Israel and Iran,
years. Particularly in the energy realm, through
let alone nuclear attacks, in the region. As Foreign
bilateral agreements in 1996 and 1997, Iran became
Minister Davutoğlu argued in December 2009, the
Turkey’s second largest supplier of gas after Russia.
fallout for Turkey of an Israeli nuclear attack on
Yet on a whole in the 1990s, Iran was portrayed as
Iran or an Iranian nuclear attack on Israel would
Turkey’s feared and loathed “other.”
be equally disastrous.11 Hence, Turkey’s repeated
In the 21st century, this picture has visibly altered.
In the energy domain, relations developed further 8
See Table 1 below.
Taşpınar, Ömer (2008). “Turkey’s Middle East Policies:
9
Ideology and Foreign Policy in Flux.” Journal of Third World Marshall Fund of the United States, www.transatlantictrends.org
Studies, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 105–124. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu’s speech, Dec. 8,
11
7
Mujahedeen al-Khalq is a violent opponent to the Iranian 2009, SETA, Washington.
regime.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 5
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
battle against the PKK has facilitated Turkish Syria were dominated by the issue of Damascus’
rapprochement with Northern Iraq. Since 2007- support for the PKK, particularly its involvement
2008 there have been key developments on both in the harboring of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.
the Turkish and Iraqi sides regarding the Kurdish Another contentious (and related) issue is the long-
question, including greater Turkish acceptance of standing dispute over the Euphrates River. Syria,
Iraqi Kurdish autonomy, the opening of official as a downstream nation, has always claimed water
ties between Turkey and the KRG, and the KRG’s rights of the Euphrates, which flows from Turkey.
Talking Turkish cooperation in the fight against the PKK.14 This In response, Turkey accused Syria of backing the
meant both has opened the space for a lively economic, social, PKK in order to leverage this “water controversy,”
credible threats and political relationship, with soaring trade and while Syria accused Turkey of violating Syria’s
but also massive more than 90 percent of FDI in the construction water rights with the dam development of the
engagement sector coming from Turkey.15 In September 2009, Southeastern Anatolian Project. Deteriorating
thereafter. Turkey and Iraq established a High-Level Strategic relations throughout the 1990s prompted Turkey
Cooperation Council, which included the signing to seek closer military ties with Israel in order to
of over 40 bilateral agreements. coerce Syria into dropping its support of the PKK.
The full-scale mobilization of the Turkish military
Even starker has been the sea change in Turkey’s along the Syrian border in 1998 forced Damascus
relations with Syria. Syria has always represented to change its strategy concerning the PKK and
the prototypical hostile neighbor for Turkey. From take Ankara’s threats seriously. This led to the
its creation in the wake of the Ottoman Empire’s expulsion of Öcalan from Syria in October 1998
collapse, Syria has had historical grievances and a subsequent reduction of violence in Turkey’s
against the Turkish Republic involving the Kurdish regions.
Turkish province of Hatay, the former Sanjak of
Alexandretta, which Syria was forced to cede to Syrian acquiescence to Turkish demands regarding
Turkey by the French in 1939. This traditional the PKK did not simply eliminate the prospect of
claim was compounded by Syrian alignment war between the two countries. Often overlooked
with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. is the subsequent immediate development of
Most importantly, the Kurdish question has bilateral relations through the multifaceted “Adana
historically plagued Turkish-Syrian relations. Process,”16 which included economic, military,
Since the inception of violence in Turkey by the and intelligence cooperation. As one observer in
PKK, Turkey had consistently argued that Syria the region put it, “Talking Turkish meant both
was the organization’s major backer. For much credible threats but also massive engagement
of the 1990s, most of Turkey’s relations with thereafter.”17 This process led to the possibility of
improved bilateral relations at the political level.
This was followed by key developments in 2009, including
14 The breakthrough came when former Turkish
a visit to Turkey by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, in which he President Sezer attended the funeral of former
publicly opposed the creation of a Kurdish state, and a visit to
Baghdad by President Abdullah Gül, the first visit by a Turkish Syrian President Hafez al-Assad in 2000. With
president since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, in which he this gesture, followed by friendly overtures by the
also held direct talks with President of the Iraqi Kurdish region
Massoud Barzani.
Kirişci, Kemal (2009). “The Transformation of Turkish
15
Aykan, Mahmut B. (1999). “The Turkish-Syrian Crisis of
16
Foreign Policy: The Rise of the Trading State.” New Perspectives October 1998: a Turkish View.” Middle East Policy, Vol. 6. No. 4,
on Turkey, No. 40, pp. 29–56, p. 47. For trade figures see Table 1 pp. 174–191.
below. 17
Interview with expert on Syria, Damascus, Oct. 2009.
energy, transport, tourism, education, science, customs, defence, McGreal, Chris (2004). “Turkish PM accuses Israel of
24
water, and the environment. It is presided by the two heads of practising state terrorism.” The Guardian, Jun. 4.
state and government and includes regular ministerial meetings.
Turkish Daily News (2006). “Erdoğan: Unfair war in Lebanon
25
20
See Table 1. will have no winner.” Aug. 4.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 7
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
exercise “Anatolian Eagle,”26 which happened at the (TOBB).29 More significantly, however, Turkey
same time as Israel’s abhorrence at an episode of a has undertaken three initiatives that part from
Turkish TV series (Ayrılık) showing Israeli forces the “Oslo logic” and whose repercussions are
deliberately targeting Palestinian children. The arguably more important. First is the opening of
“TV series crisis” continues to threaten Turkish- Ottoman archives regarding property certificates.
Israeli relations, with Israeli Minister of Foreign The opening of the archives represents a critical
Affairs Avigdor Lieberman stating that not even asset in the Palestinian and international position
an “enemy country” would dare act this way and against Israeli house evictions and demolitions
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon in Jerusalem, a crucial question in view of the
publicly humiliating Turkey’s Ambassador to Israel international consensus on Jerusalem representing
in January 2010.27 Once again, Turkish (and Israeli) the shared capital of Israel and Palestine. Second
diplomacy scrambled to avoid further escalation, is Turkey’s support for the report of the Human
and it is noteworthy that tensions did not result Rights Council headed by Justice Richard
in a downgrading of diplomatic relations as had Goldstone. The report condemned Israel (and
occurred in the past.28 Nonetheless, the Turkish- Hamas) of war crimes in Gaza (and southern
Israeli relationship, far from being the unbreakable Israel) and recommended measures to ensure
military alliance of the 1990s, has undergone an accountability. In doing so, the report can be viewed
underlying structural turn. as a milestone in the arduous task of reinserting
international humanitarian law back into the
Consequently, Turkish-Palestinian relations have international community’s approach to the conflict.
also changed. Some Turkish actions have been Third, Turkey, like other European countries such
articulated within the broad contours of the (failed) as Norway and Switzerland, but unlike the EU and
Oslo process, including former Turkish President United States, has maintained open channels with
Süleyman Demirel’s participation in the 2000 Hamas. Upon Hamas’ electoral victory in January
Mitchell Commission; the growing aid delivery 2006, Turkey recognized the new PA government
by the Turkish International Cooperation and and invited Hamas’s Damascus-based leader Khaled
Development Agency (TIKA) to the Occupied Meshal to Ankara in February 2006.30 Given that
Territory; the meeting in November 2007 between any Israeli-Palestinian agreement hinges, inter alia,
Israeli President Peres and Palestinian Authority on Hamas’ acceptance, and given the movement’s
(PA) President Mahmoud Abbas in Turkey; or the control of the Gaza Strip and its support amongst
“Industry for Peace” (Barış için Sanayi Girişimi) the Palestinians, Turkey represents one of the few
project by the Turkish Chambers of Commerce Western channels to engage Hamas. The added
downgraded diplomatic relations with Israel to the level of After much controversy surrounding the Hamas visit to
30
second secretary in response to Israel’s declaration of Jerusalem Ankara, Khaled Meshal met then-Minister of Foreign Affairs
as its undivided capital. Gül at the AKP headquarters rather than at the Foreign Ministry.
Turkish airspace), and official preparations took Ministry of Foreign Affairs who were not fully involved in the
process.
place between March 2007 and May 2008. Between 34
Syria for the first time made a written territorial offer (six
May and December 2008, four rounds of official reference points on the map) on the Golan Heights expecting an
indirect talks via Turkish shuttle diplomacy took Israeli response. In turn Israel asked a set of security questions
(related to Syria’s stance vis-à-vis Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran
following a deal) to which Syria responded in written form yet in
a manner deemed too vague by Israel. During his visit to Turkey
Speech by Ibrahim Kalın, Advisor to the Turkish Prime
31
on Dec. 23, 2008, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert was expected
Minister, Istanbul Forum, Istanbul, Oct. 2009.
to deliver written responses to the Syrian offer, which he did
This account was informed by interviews with Syrian, Israeli,
32
not, primarily for domestic political reasons. The two prime
and Turkish negotiators in the process, Damascus, Jerusalem, Tel ministers allegedly had a five-hour-long dinner in telephone
Aviv, and Istanbul, Oct. 2009. conversation with Syrian President Assad.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 9
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
Richard Falk who argued that “[i]t is tragic that 5+137 talks in 2006, when then-Minister of Foreign
this effort failed, and was at the time criticized. Affairs Abdullah Gül conducted shuttle diplomacy
In retrospect, both the wellbeing of the Gazan between the principal actors of Condoleeza Rice,
civilian population and the security of Israel Javier Solana, Mohammed el Baradei, and Ali
would have greatly benefited by taking advantage Larijani. Since then, Ankara has consistently
of the Turkish initiative.”35 The second instance offered its good offices to mediate on the question
of Turkish mediation was during Operation Cast of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and continues to pass
Turkey is Lead in December 2008-January 2009. Given the messages from Washington to Tehran. However,
geographically, absence of official contact with Hamas, neither Turkey’s efforts have thus far yielded few results.
historically, and the United States nor the European Union could
exert any influence on Hamas in order to secure A final area of Turkey’s attempted mediation is
strategically
a ceasefire on its side.36 Egypt played a crucial within the Arab world, a role unthinkable for
well-placed to Turkey in any other period of its Republican
play a mediation role, yet the well-known difficulties between
Hamas and the Egyptian regime also opened a history. Three examples of this are Turkey’s
role. They are mediation efforts within Iraq, between Syria and
space for Turkey. Davutoğlu readily used it by
nonetheless Iraq, and between Syria and Saudi Arabia. In the
holding two meetings with Hamas leader Khaled
emblematic of Meshal and shuttling between Damascus and first case, Turkey in 2005 successfully persuaded
a Turkish role in Cairo in order to persuade Hamas to agree to Sunni leaders to participate in the national elections
the Arab world a ceasefire in return for an Israeli ceasefire and in Iraq, helping to draw them into a new political
that would have the lifting of Israel’s closure of Gaza. The effort system led by the Shi’a. In the second case, Turkey
hitherto been failed as Israel refused to lift its closure of Gaza attempted to reconcile Syrians and Iraqis over the
unthinkable. without the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. latter’s accusation of the former for the August 2009
bombings in Baghdad. In the final case, Turkey
Turkey has also been drawn into a possible mediated a micro-crisis over the quasi-cancellation
mediation between the West and Iran. Given of a state visit by the King of Saudi Arabia to
Turkey’s opposition to further sanctions on Tehran Syria in the fall of 2009 due to tensions between
and its shared goal with the West of deterring Damascus and Riyadh. With the help of Turkey’s
Iranian nuclear weapons, mediating on the Iranian last minute interventions, this visit was completed
nuclear question in order to seek a diplomatic in October 2009 and Syria’s rapprochement with
solution to the problem has become a major part the Arab League was further facilitated.38 Whereas
of Turkish foreign policy. More broadly, as an these three examples represent Turkey’s role in
important regional power that has a long history of micro-crisis management, they are nonetheless
pragmatic relations with Iran and as an important emblematic of a Turkish role in the Arab world that
member of the West, Turkey is geographically, would have hitherto been unthinkable.
historically, and strategically well-placed to play
a mediating role. Turkey thus sought to facilitate
35
Falk, Richard (2009). “Understanding the Gaza catastrophe.”
Today’s Zaman, Jan. 4. The 5+1 contact group includes the five permanent members
37
The shift in Turkey’s policies toward the Middle (DEIK), the Independent Industrialists and
East is stark and can be explained by a confluence Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD), the Turkish
of international, regional, and domestic factors. At Exporters Assembly (TIM), the Turkish Union of
the international and regional levels, these factors Chambers (TOBB), the Turkish Industrialists’ and
range from the vacuum left by the 1991 Gulf War Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), and the
and the 2003 Iraq War to the changing dynamics Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists
in the Kurdish question and the deterioration (TUSKON) constantly lobby the government on
of the Arab-Israeli conflict, particularly in the foreign policy questions. It would be hard to make Without
aftermath of Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. They sense of Turkish foreign policy toward countries democratization
include the considerable influence that the EU has such as Russia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and Syria it is doubtful
had on Turkish foreign policy39 and by the United without taking into consideration these economic
that Erdoğan
States first aggravating Turkey’s sensitivities on the interests.40 Similarly, economic interests played an
would have been
Kurdish question in 2003-2007 and then diffusing important role in efforts to improve relations with
as critical as
them by cooperating with Turkey in the fight the KRG and with Armenia.
against the PKK. he has been of
Additionally, Turkish democratization has made Israel lately.
Above all, however, the change in Turkish foreign the government more accountable and sensitive
policy hinges on Turkey’s domestic transformation to public opinion. Whereas past governments
and democratization, kick-started, inter alia, by could easily ignore the public, the government
its EU accession process, and propelled by the now feels obliged—for electoral as much as
rise of the ruling AKP under the leadership of populist reasons—to take public opinion into
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish account. Indeed, the backdrop to the March 2003
foreign policy had traditionally been the exclusive parliamentary vote not to allow the United States
domain of the military and the Ministry of Foreign to attack Iraq through Turkish territory was the
Affairs. In the course of the last decade, these massive public mobilization against the looming
institutions not only have been transformed but war. Similarly, without a more responsive public
others have acquired a growing role in crafting and greater freedom of expression, it would have
foreign policy. These include state bodies such as been difficult to imagine the debates that made it
the ministries of energy, environment, interior, possible for Turkey to reverse its policies toward
and transportation, the under-secretariat for Cyprus in 2004 and Armenia in 2008–2009. With
foreign trade, and the development agency Turkish some irony, it could also be argued that without
International Cooperation and Development democratization it is doubtful that Erdoğan would
Agency (TIKA). In addition, civil society, and have been as critical as he has been of Israel lately,
in particular businesses associations such as whereby the government and especially the prime
the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board minister responds to the public outrage over
civilian casualties in the region.
Some of this literature includes Aydın, Mustafa and Sinem A.
39
Açıkmese (2007). “Europeanization through EU conditionality: Accounting for these domestic developments
Understanding the new era in Turkish foreign policy.” Journal of is critical in order to understand the AKP
Southern Europe and the Balkans, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 263–74; Öniş,
Ziya (2003). “Turkey and the Middle East after September 11:
The Importance of the EU Dimension.” Turkish Policy Quarterly,
Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 84-95; and Akçapar, Burak (2007). Turkey’s Kirişci, Kemal (2009). “The transformation of Turkish foreign
40
new European era: Foreign policy on the road to EU membership, policy: The rise of the trading state.” New Perspectives on Turkey,
Lanham, MD: Toronto: Rowman & Littlefield. No. 40, pp. 29–57.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 11
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
government’s foreign policy orientation, marked The upshot and irony of this increasingly
by the concepts of “zero problems” with neighbors democratic Turkey is a growing readiness to
and “Strategic Depth,” elaborated by the current diverge and say “no” to the United States or the
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu. European Union when their policies have been
“Strategic Depth” seeks to reposition Turkey from perceived as countering Turkish interests. Unlike
the periphery of international relations to the during the Cold War and its immediate aftermath,
center as an actor sitting at the intersection of when Turkish army generals and diplomats could
The doctrine multiple regions. It does so by courting different be counted on to support the West even when
of Strategic alliances in order to maintain optimal regional and policies harmed Turkey’s national interest, Turkish
Depth provides global independence and influence,41 by taking on leaders are now being held accountable for their
a normative a larger role in its former Ottoman territories, and foreign policy decisions, and at times they give
chapeau to the by prioritizing “dialogue and cooperation” over in to populism. In other words, like any other
plethora of state “coercion and confrontation.”42 The appeal of this democracy, Turkey today responds to the public,
doctrine has allowed the AKP to work with many including its nationalist segments, as well as to
and non-state
nationalists and ardent secularists in Turkey who powerful business interests. Toward this end, the
interests that
dislike the AKP’s conservative religious roots but confidence exhibited by the prime minister in
concomitantly agree on the need to make use of both Turkey’s his diplomatic dealings and political rhetoric has
push Turkey to Ottoman past and former geopolitical space. It has rubbed off on Turkey as a whole and stems directly
develop deeper also rallied favor with business and civil society, from the political power accumulated by his party.
and stronger ties which are eager to develop close ties with the Given the AKP’s unrivalled position domestically,
to its neighbors. neighbors in the economic and social domains. its foreign policy doctrine of “Strategic Depth” has
In other words, the doctrine of “Strategic Depth” also been hegemonic within the country. Turkey’s
provides a normative chapeau to the plethora of new self-awareness as a regional power means that
state and non-state interests that concomitantly rather than simply being able to rely on Turkey as
push Turkey to develop deeper and stronger ties to an instrument of Western power projection in the
its neighbors. It also conceptualizes a foreign policy Middle East, the West is now facing a stronger and
trend that has been in the making since the days more assertive Turkey that can and will disagree on
of former Turkish Prime Minister and President key foreign policy issues.
Turgut Özal in the late 1980s and early 1990s and
of former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem in What are the implications of this for the United
the late 1990s.43 States and the EU? There are two possible readings
of Turkey’s Middle Eastern transformation. The
first and far more common explanation tends to
be a cautious—if not outright negative—view of an
For further discussion on this doctrine, see Walker, Joshua
41
(2007). “Learning Strategic Depth: Implications of Turkey’s new increasingly “Islamic” Turkey inexorably drifting
foreign policy doctrine.” Insight Turkey, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 32–47. toward the East. The second reading is more
Davutoğlu, Ahmet (2001). Startejik Derinlik Türkiye’nin
42
positive, viewing Turkey’s increased activism and
Uluslararası Konumu, Istanbul, Küre. For an elaboration see
Davutoğlu, Ahmet (2004). “Türkiye merkez ülke olmalı.” independence in the Middle East as a potential
Radikal, Feb. 26; and Davutoğlu, Ahmet (2008). “Turkey’s asset to the Western alliance, provided certain
Foreign Policy Vision: An Assessment of 2007.” Insight Turkey,
Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 77–96.
conditions are met.
Altunışık-Benli, Meliha (2009). “Worldviews and Turkish
43
dangerous slide to the East. The cause of this slide is ‘Losing’ Turkey?, Mar. 25, Washington, The Hudson Institute;
Cagaptay, Soner (2005). Turkey at a Crossroads: Preserving
Ankara’s Western Orientation, Washington, Washington Institute
for Near East Policy.
“Turkish PM speaks Sarkozy on the phone,” Time Turk English,
44
Schenker, David (2009). “A NATO without Turkey.” The Wall
48
NY.com, http://www.turkishny.com/tr/ingilizce-haberler/1639- The Agenda behind the Agenda.” SWP Comments, Oct. 2009,
turkey-key-to-convincing-hamas-on-gaza-cease-fire-.html Berlin, SWP, p. 4.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 13
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
and rapprochement with Greece, overturned policy as well as the prime minister’s close associates
on Cyprus by supporting reconciliation between its recognize as being a problem. These very people are
“Muslim” and “Christian Orthodox” communities, often the ones engaging in damage repair, picking
and attempted to improve relations with “Christian” up the pieces broken by the prime minister’s
Armenia at the expense of “Muslim” Azerbaijan. rhetorical outbursts. It should be noted, however,
Moreover, and far from only improving relations that the prime minister has the reputation of
with authoritarian regimes, it is also critical to bear speaking brashly in domestic politics, too, on issues
in mind that it was during the AKP’s years in office as diverse (and not Islam-related) as the H1N1 flu
that EU-Turkey relations intensified and accession and the Kurdish question. This, of course, is not to
talks started. Furthermore, Islam as an explanatory say that religious considerations do not play any
parameter would fail to account for Erdoğan’s role in the AKP’s foreign policy at all. It is rather
close friendship with President Bashir al-Assad, to argue that religion, alongside conservatism
the symbol of secularism in Syria and otherwise and nationalism, while certainly playing a role
belonging to a minority heterodox sect in Islam. in Turkey—as in the United States, the European
Union, and the international system more
Further facts question an “Islam-centered” broadly—cannot explain alone the transformation
explanation of Turkish foreign policy. As discussed of Turkish foreign policy.52
below, the overwhelming majority of the millions of
people that enter visa-free Turkey each year come Turkey as an independent actor: Asset for the
from “Christian” countries,50 a reality that stands United States and Europe
in stark contrast to the EU’s Schengen regime that
forbids visa-free travel to all Muslim countries In view of the limitations of this first interpretation
except Brunei and Malaysia.51 An additional fact of Turkish foreign policy, others have adopted
contrasting a religion-based reading of Turkish a different reading of Turkey’s evolution and its
foreign policy regards development aid: the second foreign policy implications. Turkey is viewed as
largest recipient of Turkish development assistance having embarked on an important path toward
after Afghanistan is Moldova, a “Christian” country. democratization. It is seen as having abandoned the
gross human rights abuses of the 1990s and, while
In other words, religion, rather than representing no longer always supporting U.S. policy in the
an overarching explanatory factor for Turkish Middle East, it no longer engages in brinkmanship
foreign policy appears to explain, at best, some in its neighborhood. In this reading, Turkey’s
of the rhetoric of the Turkish prime minister. domestic reform efforts are emphasized, including
Erdoğan’s outburst at the 2009 Davos World the momentous constitutional and legislative
Economic Forum, his defense of Sudanese reforms in 2001–2005 and the courageous “Kurdish
President Omar al-Bashir, and his support for the opening” in 2009.53 Openness at home has spilled-
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are
examples of this, which many Turkish diplomats
52
For studies of the impact of the rise of conservatism and
nationalism in Turkey see Çarkoğlu, Ali and Kalaycıoğlu, Ersin
50
See Table 2 below. (2009). The Rising Tide of Conservatism in Turkey, New York,
Palgrave/Macmillan; and Grigoriadis, Ioannis N. (2008). Trials
Council Regulation No 453/2003, Mar. 6, 2003 amending
51
of Europeanization. Turkish Political Culture and the European
Regulation (EC) No. 539/2001. Very recently citizens of
Union, London and New York, Palgrave Macmillan.
Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, two partly Muslim countries,
have been promised visa-facilitation Council Regulation No. Cook, Steven (2009). “Turkey’s war at home.” Survival, Vol. 51,
53
266/2009, Jul. 15, 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No. 539/2001. No. 5, Oct.-Nov., pp. 105–120.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 15
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
Political complementarity without borders,” Turkey also shares considerable
cultural, ethnic, and linguistic links that make
Politically, Turkey’s Middle Eastern policies can it an important partner for President Obama in
be viewed as complementary to those of the Afghanistan.60
United States and the European Union in several
interrelated ways. On Iraq, the imminent U.S. withdrawal is removing
a central point of tension in U.S.-Turkish relations.
Today, Turkey represents a critical partner As the United States withdraws, Turkish fears of
Today, Turkey for the United States on its three most urgent
represents a a U.S.-sponsored independent Kurdish region
strategic issues—Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran. On have faded and been replaced by a new impetus to
critical partner Afghanistan, Turkey might be reluctant to commit resolve long-simmering Kurdish issues. Moreover,
for the United more combat troops, but it recognizes the priority U.S. cooperation with Turkey in the battle against
States on its of extinguishing the Afghan-Pakistani fires before the PKK has facilitated Turkish rapprochement
three more urgent they spread. In 2008, more than 45 percent of with the KRG, which in turn has generated
strategic issues— TIKA’s budget of $780 million was channeled economic interdependence along the border and
Afghanistan, to support the “reconstruction of Afghanistan increased Turkish influence throughout Iraq. Short
Iran, and Iraq. Program.”59 An important proportion of these of coercive action, Ankara is determined to prevent
funds have gone to building and running schools, nuclear Iran and will support Obama’s attempts to
including schools for girls, as well as hospitals and resolve the standoff diplomatically in view of its
health clinics for the general public. The personnel lack of confidence in the effectiveness of sanctions.
are either Turkish-educated Afghans or assigned
from Turkey. As far as the Arab-Israeli conflict is concerned,
Turkey can continue to play a useful role, yet its
The Turks have taken command for the second efforts can bear fruit only if undertaken in tandem
time of the International Security Assistance Forces with the United States. Turkey has demonstrated
(ISAF) in Kabul and have doubled their troop its ability to mediate micro-crises (e.g. intra-Iraq,
levels over the last year. Every place the Turks, Syria and Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia). Turkey can
both civilian and military alike, have controlled also play a useful role as a go-between the West and
have resulted in considerable and consistent actors such as Hamas, Iran, or Syria, with whom
improvements in ways that few other European the United States and European Union either have
allies can claim. Considering the fact that Turkey no relations or have problematic relations riddled
boasts the second-largest military in NATO and is by mistrust. Yet as far as the macro-conflicts in the
the only functioning Muslim-majority democracy region are concerned, Turkey’s potential is limited.
in the alliance, Turkey is well-placed to play a Turkey played an important role in moving the
leading role in Kabul. Ankara has close historic Syrian-Israeli track forward. Turkey has also won
ties to Afghanistan that date back to the 1920s, Syrian trust and desire to see Turkey involved in
when the founder of the modern Turkish Republic,
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, served as a model for
modernization that collapsed only after great The American emphasis on combat troop levels is not
60
power interference in Kabul carved up the country. shared in Turkey, where the fact that not a single Afghan
has died from a Turkish bullet is continually cited as a major
Often referred to as Afghanistan’s “closest neighbor reason for the success of Turkish troops in the country.
For more on Turkey’s role in Afghanistan see Joshua W.
Walker, http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/12/04/
59
TIKA (2009). 2008 Annual Report, Ankara, TIKA, p. 10. turkey-obama%E2%80%99s-ideal-partner/.
Washington and Damascus, Oct. 2009. that are now struggling to regain currency. In
See “Netanyahu: Turkey can’t be an ‘honest broker’ in Syria
62 2008, TIKA channeled almost $800 million in
talks.” Ha’aretz, Oct. 18, 2009, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/ development aid to 98 countries, many of them
spages/1121723.html. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
in its neighborhood, a proportion of which was
Interviews with Syrian and Israeli negotiators and Turkish
63
diplomatic boycotts. What we mean is engaging with both Israel Interviews with former Israeli negotiator, Jerusalem, and
65
and Hamas according to their respective actions in the conflict. analyst, Tel Aviv, Oct. and Nov. 2009.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 17
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
“empowering women.” Since a Turkish national was Syria feels threatened, it turns to Iran; when it sees
elected as secretary-general of the Organization opportunities, it turns to Turkey.”69 Indeed, Syria on
of the Islamic Conference (OIC), there have one hand has important areas of disagreements with
been efforts to pursue similar projects among Tehran, particularly regarding the sectarianization
the members. Turkey worked hard to include of Iraq, but on the other hand observes the disunity
“good governance” and “expansion of political of the Arab world, Turkey’s potential in providing
participation” in the OIC’s Ten Year Program of a route to the West, and an opportunity for an
Finally, Turkey, Action in 2005 and its Charter at the Dakar Summit economically integrated Middle East. Egypt and
unlike the United in March 2008.66 There are also a growing number Saudi Arabia, fearing a loss of primacy in certain
States and of Turkish NGOs engaged in cultural, educational, areas, have been less enthusiastic about Turkey’s role
European Union, environmental, and women projects and of in Palestine and intra-Arab affairs. Yet, on a whole,
is an actor “of” influential business organizations that interact with the Turks have been accepted by Arab states that
and not simply “in” their counterparts abroad, promoting the diffusion welcome the pragmatic and business-savvy nature of
of liberal market values. The United States and the Turkish diplomacy. As a gateway to both Europe and
the Middle East.
European Union ought to consider tapping into the America, Turkey has become an important meeting
growing Turkish experience in development and spot for the actors of the region. Turkey’s presence in
democracy assistance. Partnering with Turkey, at the Middle East thus offers the prospect to unsettle
the official and civil-society levels, could not only and dislodge the dichotomies that have poisoned the
enrich EU and U.S. democracy promotion policies Middle East. In the West (yet partly also in the Middle
but also encourage positive transatlantic influences East), the region is often viewed in us/them terms, be
on Turkey’s own democratizing efforts. this moderate/radical, Western/anti-Western, Sunni/
Shi’ite, Israeli/Arab, or West/Islam. Turkey could
Finally, Turkey, unlike the United States and European help move away from these dichotomies by being
Union, is an actor “of ” and not simply “in” the Middle “moderate,” “Muslim,” and “Western” yet enjoying
East. As such, it offers the prospect to realign the relations with “radicals” and “anti-Western” actors in
region by countering revisionist trends. In today’s the “Muslim” Middle East; by being predominantly
Middle East, states like Iran and Israel, while different “Sunni” while enjoying relations with “Shi’ite”
in many ways, raise suspicion and anxiety, triggering countries (e.g. Iran), movements (e.g. Hezbollah), and
an accelerated insecurity in the region. By contrast, regimes (e.g. the Alawite Syrian regime), as well as
Turkey fosters relations with all parties irrespective enjoying the credibility to mediate between sectarian
of their domestic political systems67 through bilateral groups in Iraq and Lebanon; by being neither Arab
relations and regional integration. Syria sees this nor Israeli while enjoying relations with both.
potential. Prevalent in Syrian perceptions of Turkey
is Damascus’ double objective of strengthening its Socio-economic complementarity
hand vis-à-vis Israel68 while diversifying its alliance
with Iran. As a key Syrian interlocutor puts it, “When At the socio-economic level, Turkey’s potential in
the Middle East lies in integrating the region into
the global system through increased economic and
66
Interview with an official from the OIC secretariat, Oct. 2009.
social interaction with Turkey, and, via Turkey,
Like the EU and the United States, Turkey has not made its
67
foreign relations conditional on countries’ compliance with with the West. In order to appreciate this potential,
democratic standards. we need to contextualize it by referring back to
For example, by assuring that Israeli attacks, such as the one
68 Turkey’s relations with the former Soviet space. In
in 2007 through Turkish airspace, would no longer be possible.
Telephone conversation with expert on Syria, Paris, September
2009. 69
Interview, Damascus, Oct. 2009.
the Middle East.” in Geoffrey Kemp and Janice Gross Stein (eds) successor states of the Soviet Union as well as those states that
Powder Keg in the Middle East: The Struggle for Gulf Security, were regarded as being part of the Soviet Bloc such as Bulgaria
Lanham, MD, Rowman and Littlefield. and Romania.
71
Kirişci, Kemal (2005). “A friendlier Schengen visa system as a The exception was Graham Fuller, who noted how Turkey
75
tool of ‘soft power’: The experience of Turkey.” European Journal was developing new relations to the “south, east, and north” and
of Migration and Law, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 343–367. expressed concern that if accompanied with “chauvinist and anti-
Western positions” this may be “in no one’s interest.” See Fuller,
Collison, Sarah (1993). Beyond Borders: West European
72
Graham (1992). Turkey Faces East: New Orientations Toward the
Migration Policy Towards the 21st Century, London: Royal Middle East and the Old Soviet Union, Santa Monica, Rand, p. ix.
Institute of International Affairs, pp. 39–50.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 19
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
Table 1: Foreign trade relations between Turkey and its neighbors
in million USD, 1991, 2000, and 2008
1991 2000 2008
Export Import TOTAL Export Import TOTAL Export Import TOTAL
Greece 144 77 221 438 431 869 2,430 1,151 3,581
Bulgaria 76 140 216 253 465 718 2,152 1,840 3,992
Romania 105 199 304 326 674 1,000 3,987 3,548 7,535
Moldova 0 0 0 26 7 33 198 70 268
Ukraine 0 0 0 2,188 6,106 8,294 2,188 6,106 8,294
Russia 611 1,097 1,708 644 3,887 4,531 6,483 31,364 37,847
Georgia 0 0 0 132 155 287 998 525 1,523
Azerbaijan 0 0 0 230 96 326 1,667 928 2,595
Iran 487 91 578 236 816 1052 2,030 8,200 10,230
Iraq 122 492 614 0 0 0 3,917 1,321 5,238
Syria 264 67 331 184 545 729 1,115 639 1,754
Egypt 169 48 217 376 141 517 1,426 943 2,369
Israel 79 78 157 650 505 1155 1,935 1,448 3,383
Total 2,057 2,289 4,346 5,683 13,828 19,511 30,526 58,083 88,609
EU 7,348 9,896 17,244 14,510 26,610 41,120 63,390 74,802 138,192
United States 913 2,255 3,168 3,135 3,911 7,046 4,300 11,976 16,276
Grand Total 13,593 21,047 34,640 27,775 54,503 82,278 132,027 201,964 333,991
Source: Turkish Statistical Institute, Foreign Trade by Countries report, www.tuik.gov.tr.
Note 1: 2008 values are temporary.
Note 2: Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana are also added to the EU values for 1991.
Note 3: For 1991, the values for Russia are values for USSR. Therefore, separate data do not exist for Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan for 1991.
Note 4: For 2000, no data exist for Iraq.
This pattern of relations between Turkey and wall” between Turkey and the Arab Middle East
the former Soviet space was in stark contrast to was reinforced when Turkey became a candidate
Turkey’s relations with the Middle East at the time. country for EU membership in 1999 and Ankara
Despite Özal’s intention to develop closer relations enthusiastically committed itself to introducing the
with Middle Eastern countries as well, the Arab terms of the Schengen visa regime in 2001–2005.
world remained lukewarm to his ideas. Trade Therefore, as can be observed from Table 2, the
sanctions on Iraq, growing violence in Turkey’s movement of people from the Middle East to
southeast, and souring relations with Egypt, Libya, Turkey remained limited compared to the one
and Syria further hampered Özal’s ambitions. from the remaining regions surrounding Turkey.
Unlike in the ex-Soviet world, the nationals of Arab From 1990 to 2009, the number of people entering
countries throughout the 1990s were thus required Turkey from the former Soviet Union increased
to obtain visas before coming to Turkey. The “paper about 25-fold, from around 220,000 to over 5.4
million. In contrast, the increase for the Middle (MENA) have boomed in recent years. In 1971,
Eastern countries cited in Table 2 was only six-fold, THY flew to 17 destinations in 11 countries,
and almost two-thirds of the entries were from Iran overwhelmingly in Western Europe. There were
whose nationals have enjoyed visa-free travel to no flights whatsoever to the former Soviet world
Turkey since the early 1960s. and one flight each to Lebanon and Israel. In
2009, this picture has altered dramatically with
Recently, this picture has been changing fast. a total of 113 routes in 70 countries, including
Turkish trade with the Middle East has expanded 39 destinations in the former Soviet Bloc and
and diversified. Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and the 23 destinations to the MENA countries.76
Gulf states are becoming important economic
partners like Israel has been since the mid 1990s. Turkey’s opening to Syria took place amid
Following the Turkey-Syria free trade agreement considerable American and EU resistance in
in 2004, bilateral commerce has picked up, the mid 2000s. This resistance notwithstanding,
more than doubling between 2000 and 2008 Erdoğan stood his ground and made clear that
(see Table 1), and is expected to grow many fold Turkey would not support any efforts to isolate
in the coming years. Erdoğan, during his visit Syria economically.77 The prime minister’s
to Syria in December 2009 and his subsequent position reflected the feeling among the business
address to the Foreign Economic Relations Board community, especially in major cities along the
(DEIK), said he expected Turkey to become Syrian border and in the southeast. The business
Syria’s economic gateway to Europe, and Syria community in Gaziantep, a major and growing
to become Turkey’s gateway to Arab markets.
He even foresaw free movements of goods, Nergiz, Abdullah (2008). Türkiye’de Sivil Havacılığın Gelişimi
76
services, and people between the two countries ve THY (Master’s thesis, presented at Marmara University, Social
Science Institute, Istanbul) and data obtained from the head
and throughout the region. Indicative of these offices of Turkish Airlines.
developments is the way in which Turkish Airlines Interview broadcasted by TRT1 (2009). “Ankara Gündemi.”
77
(THY) flights to the Middle East and North Africa Jan. 26.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 21
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
commercial and industrial center of the region, trade imbalance, as shown in Table 1. Turkey has
attributes great importance to relations with Syria struggled to fill the gap considering the high levels
and has always been keen to revive a natural of protectionism of Iranian markets, as evidenced
economic zone that once included Aleppo and by the travails of the Turkish airport construction
Damascus. The frontier region between the two and management company TAV in running
countries has also had longstanding family and Tehran’s new international airport.80 Hence, Turkey
social relations that have created a demand for values highly its recent deal with Iran that allows
closer bilateral ties. This has been reinforced by the for the possibility of developing Iranian natural
recognition that cities further east of Gaziantep, gas fields in cooperation with Turkish companies.
in the mostly Kurdish-populated southeast of In this context, Ankara remains very keen to
Turkey, suffer from high levels of unemployment, support and see Iran, as well as Russia, join the
which aggravate if not undermine efforts to tackle WTO. Turkey’s attempt to compensate for its trade
Turkey’s Kurdish question. imbalance with Iran also explains why Ankara is
eager to retain visa-free travel with Iran. Turkey
Developments in the southeast and Turkey’s continues to be the only country in the West that
“Kurdish opening” launched in July 2009 also Iranians can visit without visas. The visa-free policy
underpin burgeoning ties to Iraq, especially has enabled large numbers of regime opponents to
Northern Iraq. Any explanation of improving flee the country and enjoy temporary protection
Turkish-Iraqi relations would be incomplete if in Turkey before settling elsewhere in the West.
economic factors were not taken into account, More broadly, Turkey is one of the few countries
including the role of the Diyarbakır Chamber that the Iranian middle-class can visit freely and
of Commerce (DTO) and of Turkish businesses in which they can enjoy the benefits of a liberal
operating in Northern Iraq. Movement of people economy and society. Not least because of this,
between Iraq and Turkey is expanding, too. President Ahmadinejad, soon after he first came
Currently, Iraqi nationals can travel by air to Istanbul to power, banned direct flights from Tehran to
practically without visas, although visas at the the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya on the
land crossing at Habur are still required. There is grounds that the values of Antalya and its beaches
considerable pressure to lift visas for Iraqi nationals, were incompatible with those of the Islamic
not least because of pressure from Turkish business. revolution.81
DTO has consistently called for this policy,78
and Erdoğan responded to these calls favorably In a major break from former practice, Turkey also has
in October 2009 when he announced that his begun to relax travel restrictions on people beyond its
government intends to lift visas for Iraqi nationals.79 immediate Middle Eastern neighbors. The nationals
of the Gulf states can travel to Turkey without visas,
Relations with Iran are also driven by economic
considerations. In contrast to most of Turkey’s
neighbors, Iran, together with Russia, is the only TAV won the bid to manage the Tehran airport, but despite
80
country with which Turkey runs a major foreign considerable pressure from the Turkish government and a
favorably disposed Khatami administration, the Iranian Majlis
blocked the deal.
The president of the Iranian Trade and Industry Chamber said
81
78
Interview with a representative of DTO, Oct. 2009.
in a meeting that although he was very supportive of Iranians
Remarks made during the opening session of the “The Middle
79
visiting Turkey, direct flights to Antalya and Bodrum would
East in World Politics: Searching for Security in a Troubled not be looked upon favorably because of “topless beaches,” as
Region,” Istanbul Forum, Oct. 19, 2009. reported in Akşam, Feb. 7, 2007.
82
For study of the visa problem between Turkey and the EU,
see Doğan, Erhan (2009). Impact of Visa Regimes over Travel
Decisions and Patterns of Turkish Citizens, MireKoç Report,
Istanbul, Koç University.
Al Sharif, Yousef and Saha, Samir (2009). “Turkey’s European
83
84
Al-Azm, Sadik J. (2005). “Islam and Secular Humanism.” “Transforming Turkish Foreign Policy: The Quest for Regional
Islam and Secularism, Antwerpen, The Dialogue Series No. 2, Leadership and Europeanization.” Commentary, Brussels, CEPS,
Universitair Centrum Saint-Ignatius, p. 48. November.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 23
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
4 Realizing Turkey’s Middle Eastern
Potential
The second interpretation of the transformation with Israel to be dictated by conditionality and
in Turkey’s Middle Eastern policies is far more “tough love” considering Israel’s violations of
promising for Turkey, the United States, EU, and, international law, it is equally important for Turkey
above all, the Middle East. Yet this is not to say that not to fall in the opposing camp. Above all, it is
this explanation is always and necessarily correct. essential for Turkey’s actions in the Middle East not
Under what conditions does it apply, and what are be interpreted as driven by its “Muslim” identity,
the policy implications for Turkey, the European but rather by international rights and law. For
For Turkey’s Union, and the United States? Turkey’s potential to be fulfilled, Ankara cannot
potential to be be viewed as fueling an identity-driven clash that
The importance of consistent pursuit of it supposedly attempts to transcend. Ironically, the
fulfilled, Ankara
international norms significance of this was best captured by Syrian
cannot be viewed
as fueling an President al-Assad, who unequivocally underlined
First, in order for Turkey to fulfill its Middle
that Turkey must have good relations with Israel if
identity-driven Eastern promise, Turkey’s foreign policy must be
Turkey wants to support the peace process.87
clash that it consistent. Denouncing Israeli policies in Gaza
supposedly while warmly welcoming the Sudanese President Turkey’s democratic transformation as a
attempts to al-Bashir, who faces an indictment for war crimes condition for a successful foreign policy
transcend. at the International Criminal Court, rightly
opens Turkey up for criticism and accusations Turkey’s foreign policy is likely to succeed
of double standards. Beyond the Middle East, in respecting the principles of consistency
signing protocols with Armenia while making and universality only if Turkey’s democratic
their parliamentary ratification dependent on the transformation continues apace. An increasingly
solution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is another democratizing Turkey entails a reduced role for
case of inconsistency. Uttering the word “genocide” the military and an increased role for the public,
for the Uighur minority in Xinjiang while the word business, and civil society in crafting foreign policy.
is still treated with severe caution regarding the This raises Turkish stakes in promoting a stable,
Armenian question could be mentioned as another peaceful, and cooperative Middle East, and it also
example. In order to disprove the interpretation of raises the likelihood that Turkey may explicitly or
Turkish foreign policy as sliding inexorably to the otherwise be viewed as a source of inspiration by
east, it is essential for Turkey to correct and reverse its neighbors.
the above-mentioned contradictions.
Since the early 1950s, Turkey has been a
Related to this, Turkish foreign policy must act in parliamentary democracy, but for decades it
the name of universal norms and not of ethnic or failed to consolidate pluralism and respect for
religious affinities. Particularly in the Middle East, diversity. The EU’s decision in December 1999
sticking to universal norms is the only way to walk to declare Turkey as a candidate for membership
the tightrope of the conflict-ridden region. To the eventually became an important agent behind
extent that the Middle East is conflict-ridden and political reform in Turkey. The reform process
international norms are regularly flouted, Turkey gathered momentum once the AKP government
will not always be able to improve relations with came to power in November 2002 and adopted a
all actors. That said, Turkey does run the risk of series of reform packages that extended rights and
going beyond this, doing little more than “switching freedoms and curtailed the weight of the military in
alliances” from Israel to Syria, the Palestinians, and Turkish politics.
Iran. Its fiery rhetoric toward Israel is an example
of this risk. While it is healthy for Turkey’s relations Interview with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by Ertuğrul
87
the Kurdish problem in Turkey under the policy for example Aydın, Mustafa and Açıkmese, Sinem (2007).
heading of a “Kurdish opening.” However, by the “Europeanization through EU conditionality: Understanding
the new era in Turkish foreign policy.” Journal of Southern
end of the year, this “opening” had degenerated Europe and the Balkans, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 263–74; Akçapar,
into considerable political instability that saw the Burak (2007). Turkey’s new European era: Foreign policy on the
road to EU membership, Toronto, Lanham MD; Tocci, Nathalie
banning of the leading Kurdish political party, the (ed.) (2007). Conditionality, Impact and Prejudice in EU-Turkey
Democratic Society Party (DTP), from politics Relations, Rome, IAI Quaderni; and Özcan, Mesut (2008).
Harmonizing Foreign Policy: Turkey, the EU and the Middle East,
Aldershot, Ashgate.
On the rise of nationalism see Grigoriadis, Ioannis N. (2008).
88
In this respect, see Mazlum, Semra Cerit and Doğan, Erhan
91
Trials of Europeanization. Turkish Political Culture and the (eds) (2008). Sivil Toplum ve Dış Politika, Istanbul, Bağlam; Aras,
European Union, London and New York, Palgrave Macmillan; Bülent and Polat, Rabia Karakaya (2008). “From Conflict to
Uslu, Emrullah (2008). “Ulusalcılık: The Neo-nationalist Cooperation: Desecuritization of Turkey’s Relations with Syria
Resurgence in Turkey.” Turkish Studies, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 73-97. and Iran.” Security Dialogue, Vol. 39, No. 5, pp. 495–505.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 25
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
taken together, these developments made foreign needed. The EU anchor is needed to rebuild trust
policy overtures in the cases of Cyprus and within the country and reconstitute the pro-reform
Armenia possible. In other words, the continued grand coalition that the AKP had succeeded in
pursuit of democracy on the inside remains the rallying in its first years in office. The EU anchor
quintessential condition for success outside. is also needed to inject in the Turkish military
the necessary confidence to embark on and allow
EU accession as a guarantee for Turkey’s reforms in the country.92
Turkey’s accession democratic consolidation
process continues Rather than being blinded by ambitions of
This raises a few questions: How can Turkey grandeur, Turkey must realize that its value-added
to represent the sustain its democratic reform momentum and can in the neighborhood largely hinges on its ongoing
best guarantee this momentum be detached from the EU? Some domestic transformation, which in turn is highly
that the country’s may believe that Turkey, having embarked upon dependent on its EU accession process. The link
domestic an unprecedented path of domestic change, no between Turkey’s EU process and the success in its
transformation longer needs the EU. Turkey’s reform momentum foreign policy is best captured by Arab perceptions
will proceed has certainly acquired a life of its own. The 2009 of Turkey. A survey of Arab public opinion
toward higher “Kurdish Opening” is the best example of this, an that uncovered considerable positive attitudes
standards of initiative that has been clearly aimed at Turkey’s toward Turkey revealed that 64 percent of those
democratization but that has not been spurred and surveyed believed that Turkey’s EU membership
democracy.
ignited by the accession process. What is more prospects made Turkey an attractive partner for the
important for Turkey is the EU process rather than Arab world.93
the destination. Having pursued the process of EU
accession and accompanying domestic change, it As for the EU, now that its constitutional travails
may well be that Ankara and Brussels mutually are over (for the time being), it should become
concur at the end that membership is not the more aware that the world around it is changing
desirable end point. and that its influence in its neighborhood has
decreased over the last decade, not least in view of
Nevertheless, Turkey’s accession process continues its obstinate introspection. Whereas Turkey needs
to represent the best guarantee that the country’s the European Union for its own domestic and
domestic transformation will proceed toward foreign policy project to succeed, the EU needs
higher standards of democracy. In order to fulfill Turkey in order to meet the dramatic challenges
its Middle Eastern promise, Turkey’s domestic in their shared neighborhood. This should open
commitment to the European Union should the space for a long-needed rational debate on
thus remain firm. Without the EU as an anchor, Turkey, which both accounts for the complex
Turkey is unlikely to resemble Russia or Iran. Yet
similarly to most of its neighbors and not unlike
some EU member states, Turkey does run the
92
At a conference in Ankara in September 2004, retired four-
star General Edip Başer remarked that he thought that EU
risk of succumbing to authoritarian and populist membership constituted an anchor for Turkey’s internal and
tendencies. The EU, of course, is not and cannot be external security. Against the background of domestic instability,
the same retired general, on the sidelines of a 2008 conference,
the sole driver of reform. Yet the curtailments of the remarked that “had the EU remained engaged it would be
freedom of press resulting from the Doğan Holding unlikely that Turkey would be in a crisis now.” On the military’s
attitude toward the EU, see Aydınlı, Ersen, Özcan, Nihat Ali and
fine, the shaky respect of the rule of law in the Akyaz, Doğan (2006). “The Turkish Military’s March Towards
conduct of the Ergenekon trial, and the closure of Europe.” Foreign Affairs, Vol. 85, No. 1.
DTP all suggest that the EU anchor is still strongly 93
Akgün et al. (2009), p. 25.
A Neighborhood Rediscovered 27
Turkey’s transatlantic value in the Middle East
5 Conclusion
Turkey no longer represents a Cold War bulwark or Turkey’s improved standing in the Middle East
a bridge for the projection of Western interests. It is can also help the United States with democracy
increasingly a player in its own right in the Middle assistance in the region where the previous
East and beyond. This has caused consternation in administration failed. The United States could
the United States and Europe, leading to the idea consider entering into partnership with Turkish
that the West is “losing Turkey.” This paper has civil society in this regard, serving the cause of
argued instead that Turkey is belatedly engaging strengthening Turkish democracy and helping
By contributing to the Middle East by mediating conflicts, developing democracy assistance in Turkey’s neighborhood.
the integration of economic relations, and liberalizing the movement
of people, all initiatives aimed at promoting peace, The role of the European Union is even more
the Middle East
prosperity, and openness. By contributing to the critical. Having engaged Turkey in the accession
into the global
integration of the Middle East into the global process, the EU appears to have abandoned
system, Turkey’s Turkey, failing to live up to its commitments and
democracy and system, Turkey’s democracy and liberal market
economy are also having a demonstrative spillover to its transformative potential within the remit
liberal market of enlargement. The Turkish political system
on its southern neighbors, however modest.
economy are needs the sense of confidence that comes with EU
Developing channels of cooperation with Turkey
also having a in order to tap into Turkey’s potential to contribute engagement and real prospects of membership.
demonstrative to regional peace and stability in the Middle East It is the only way to reconstitute trust between
spillover on is thus imperative for the United States and the the government, the liberals, and the secular
its southern European Union. establishment, and in turn reignite the reform
neighbors, process in the country. If the accession process
however modest. However, Turkish democracy itself is not resumes and its credibility is restored, it may well be
consolidated, a precondition for Turkey’s foreign that at the end of the journey Ankara might opt for
policy to represent an asset for the United States an EU arrangement similar to that of Norway and
and the EU. The EU-driven reforms have changed Switzerland. This would allow Turkey to continue
the political landscape in Turkey dramatically, but acting as an economic, cultural, political, and social
the transformation toward liberal democracy is far hub in its neighborhood, benefiting the European
from complete. Pending domestic shortcomings Union, the neighborhood, and itself.
and political polarization have fed the temptation
to drift away from a foreign policy driven by Turkey’s new regional prominence has transformed
universal values. a static Cold War barrier into a potential catalyst
for regional peace, prosperity, and stability.
This is where the continued engagement by However, this change cannot be taken for granted
Turkey’s transatlantic partners remains vital. The and requires support from the EU and the United
Obama administration’s approach to Turkey at States. The West has never owned Turkey, and it has
the rhetorical level has been constructive. There always been a willing member. Therefore it is time
has also been effective practical cooperation to move beyond the “Who Lost Turkey?” debate
on the future of Iraq and Afghanistan, Arab- and act in order to fulfill the conditions that will
Israeli relations, and Lebanon. Even on Iran, the allow Turkey to fulfill its Middle Eastern promise.
differences are more about means than objectives.