From Security To Cooperation: Change and Continuity in Türkiye’s Middle East Policies

Abstract

This study examines the transformation of Turkish foreign policy in the Middle East context after the Cold War until today under four basic periods. These periods will be discussed as post-Cold War, September 11, Arab Spring process and post-Arab Spring. The main developments affecting the change and transformation in Türkiye-Middle East relations in these four periods will be analyzed. Turkey adopted a security-oriented foreign policy strategy in the Middle East after the Cold War; It can be said that during and after September 11, it followed a more active strategy based on mutual cooperation, prioritizing economic cooperation and historical and cultural ties. It should be noted that Turkey adopted a more interventionist strategy that supported changes during the Arab Spring, and in the post-Arab Spring period, it focused on solving the problems that arose during the Arab Spring. The main claim of this article is to reveal that the intensity of Turkey-Middle East relations increased after the Cold War and to analyze and evaluate the factors and practices that show this.