ANKARA — 2023 was a year that brought unfathomable human suffering to Turkey with the earthquakes that hit the country in February. But it also unleashed a new chapter in Recep Tayyip Erdogan's regional and international approach, as he pivoted — after winning a closely contested election in May — toward economic fixes and mending fences with NATO via Washington aimed at improving Ankara's standing.
The year began with the devastating February earthquakes that killed more than 50,000 people. There was no silver lining to the tragedy except for the disaster diplomacy that saw the country’s occasional rivals such as Greece — and historical foes like Armenia and Greek Cyprus — rushing to offer their help to the nation, which provided a little solace.
Restoration, multilateralism, win-win
After emerging victorious in the May elections in his first-ever runoff, beating all odds including a breakneck inflation range of 40% and accusations of criminal negligence in the late quake response, Erdogan underwent a major charm offensive in foreign policy in a bid to restore the country’s frayed international image and economy.
