What Has Changed In Our Foreign Policy?

BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- Some important changes recently took place in Turkey's foreign policy. Some in the West nervously claim that Turkey is gradually turning away from them and towards the East, especially the Middle East. Some even think that Ankara might break off from the West. This come from how certain Western people see Turkey through outdated lenses. But Turkey has changed, just like the world. During the Cold War, Turkish foreign policy was based on the West. Ankara was naturally acting together with its Western allies against foreign and domestic threats. Back then, Turkey didn't have the luxury of taking a more independent policy. But since the Cold War, balances and conditions in the world have changed, and Turkey started to act in line with its own interests on some issues. Steps taken in years past under Prime Ministers Turgut Ozal, Bulent Ecevit and Suleyman Demirel can't compare to today's changes. The initiatives of that time were much more modest, and Turkey saw itself as a member of the Western world acting together with its Western allies on important issues. Now the situation is different, because both Turkey and the world are different.

First, the world isn't divided into two blocs as during the Cold War. The Western world is still an important power with institutions such as NATO and the European Union and particularly its political and cultural values. But countries in the West world sometimes act in line with their own interests and views, despite their alliances. Meanwhile, Turkey has changed as well. Its political structure and economy has developed and grown dynamic. In line with its location near the Middle East, the Caucasus, and the Balkans, Ankara has gradually become a regional actor of its own initiative. These factors are in the background of Turkey's efforts towards forging closer ties with its neighbors. Indeed, Turkey started to establish new, closer relations with countries in the region, independently from the West, most notably Russia, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Actually the West isn't concerned that Turkey will establish close cooperation with Russia. Many Western countries do the same. Turkey's rapprochement with Iraq and even Syria doesn't disturb the West, either. But it's concerned about our rapprochement with Iran. This comes from how Turkey has in a way sided with Iran in the nuclear crisis and thus moved away from the West's position.

Another reason for concern in the West is that while Ankara is moving closer to Arab and Muslim countries, it's also taking a harder line against Israel. Some are saying Ankara has abandoned its old balanced political line. But all this can't be interpreted as Turkey as breaking off the West and changing direction. Obviously, Turkey has no intention of moving away from the West's institutions and values. The priority of the US, NATO and the EU in Turkey's foreign policy hasn't changed. What has changed is that now it's establishing new ties and thus following a multifaceted strategy. And this multifaceted character doesn't require any change in direction.