Turkey’s Middle East Policies1

Abstract

Turkey has consistently avoided being part of the regional politics of the Middle East during most of the 20th century and, thus, has not had a holistic approach towards the region. After decades of tense relations with some of the regional countries, primarily with Syria and occasionally with Israel and Iraq, Turkey became eager, in the early 2000s, to move beyond its problematic relations in the region. The new policy line, exemplified by the “zero problems with neighbours” motto, put forward by the then Chief Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, mainly aimed at developing closer relations with neighbours to further economic prosperity. In terms of Turkey’s energy strategy, the possibility of a new pipeline through Turkey to Europe would contribute to its hope of becoming an energy hub in the region. © 2022 Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.