Turkey’s restart in regional and foreign energy policies
Ankara is recasting its policies toward Cyprus, Israel, Azerbaijan and Iraq.
After testing the realities of its entire neighborhood on a trial-and-error basis, with not-so-tangible achievements and alienation, the huge vessel of Turkey is changing its course toward a new type of "zero problems" destination.
It shows clear signs of abandoning its earlier line, based on maximalist confrontation, anger-fueled rhetoric and diplomatic reciprocity, which has in the past two years led to what is coined as "worthy solitude" — a term which has not meant a "win-win" either for itself or for the neighbors.
The reset is based on a realism, which may replace sectarian-based, neo-Ottomanist-driven policy. Given the energy-dependent nature of the country, which needs growth, a strong middle class, international finances’ confidence and domestic stability, Ankara now focuses on optimizing for itself the vast resources of its neighbors and aims to become a huge energy hub for the region.
Febrile diplomatic activity currently with Baghdad, Erbil, Athens, Nicosia, Baku and Washington, DC — and eventually Tel Aviv — should be seen in this vast, regionally vital context. If the new line pursued a return to realism for Turkey, it could be a game-changer for its allies for seeking a new balance for predictability and stability in the Middle East and Caucasus — a Draconian endeavor.
