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More Uncertainty on Turkey’s Eastern Flank in 2013

Turkey can expect more problems in dealing with both Iraq and Syria in 2013, writes Semih Idiz.
Foreign Ministers Hoshiyar Zebari of Iraq, Walid al-Moualem of Syria and Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey, and Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa (R) chat before their meeting at the Ottoman-era Ciragan Palace in Istanbul September 17, 2009. REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY POLITICS)

The year 2012 did not go well for Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in terms of his once highly touted policy of “zero problems with neighbors.” If anything “zero problems” has turned into a catch phrase for lampooning his political ambitions.

Far from zero problems, Turkey’s relations with Iraq and Syria deteriorated further in 2012. Expectations for 2013 are not much better, given that events in those countries will most likely get worse before getting better.

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