Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
In the run-up to the 2023 elections, Turkey’s foreign policy will be shaped by domestic politics. To stand a chance of winning, the opposition must unite and put forward a cohesive electoral program.
Turkey’s upcoming elections will be the greatest ever challenge to the twenty-year dominance of the AK Party. Representatives of the country’s opposition parties share their perspectives and priorities on Turkey’s most pressing foreign policy questions.
Turkey has few explicitly pro-China voices. In response, the Chinese regime has opted for soft power strategies that leverage Turkish political players and seek a synergy with local media actors.
Having declined to join Western sanctions against Russia, Turkey has become the only remaining window to Europe for Russian companies and individuals.
It’s an indication of major fractures, as emerging states leverage digital technology and sophisticated weaponry to compete for influence and power.
The European Political Community aims to draw EU’s neighbors into its orbit while leaving enough room to accelerate European integration. Doubts remain over the new platform’s ability to overcome the harsh political realities that sunk similar initiatives over the years.
The war with Russia has forced Kyiv to take a more realistic view of Turkish foreign policy. Ukraine no longer views its relationship with Turkey as part of its partnership with the West.
Turkey’s positioning as the antithesis of European values, as well as its relationship with Russia, should raise questions about Ankara’s presence in the proposed European Political Community. The EU must not abandon its own principles and convictions in the name of realpolitik.
In an increasingly unpredictable global environment, expect Turkish foreign policy to be just as elusive.
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