Recent activities in the presidential circle of Turkey seem to be a hint to likely serious reforms both internally within the rank and files of Turkey’s leadership circle and externally with regards to Turkeys foreign and diplomatic relationships with many countries and regions all over the world.
In the areas of of domestic reforms, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that relevant changes will occur in the judiciary and the economic sectors.
Middle East/ Mediterranean
Turkey has achieved some breakthroughs in its initiatives in Libya and in Nagorno-Karabakh. In Libya, Turkey’s support turned the course of events in favor of the UN-backed Government of National Accord and a military balance seems to have been established, although pressure for the withdrawal of foreign forces, including Turkey’s, continues.
In Nagorno-Karabakh, the drones Azerbaijan purchased from Turkey proved to be effective in the recent military clashes. Furthermore, high-ranking Azeri military officials, trained in Turkey’s military staff college, performed well on the battlefield. This demonstrated to Azerbaijan the importance of its cooperation with Ankara.
USA
Ties with the US ran into trouble with Turkey’s purchase of the Russian-manufactured S-400 air defense system. Ankara continues to maintain its insistence on the deployment of the S-400. And, as if this was not enough, Erdogan also recently announced that negotiations with Russia for a second consignment of the system are under way.
Views concerning Turkey and its leadership as expressed by President-elect Joe Biden during the presidential campaign will likely be a point of concentration for future bilateral relations between the two nations. On the pessimistic flip it seem that some sensitive positions in the Biden administration that seem to have Turkish interest are being given to individuals and groups that do not seem to have the gesundheit of Turkey and its government in their agenda.
Turkey on the other hand is making quite positive moves in repairing the seemingly damaged Turkish US fence by appointing a powerful personality that is a founding member of the ruling Justice and Development Party, as her ambassador to Washington. An indication of Turkish intention to elevate her relationship with the US in the present dispensation.
European Union
In this its current move to mend fences Turkey has upgraded her diplomatic activities around Europe. For example, the Turkish ambassador to Paris is said to be a career diplomat who was a classmate of French President Emmanuel Macron in the prestigious National School of Administration.
President Erdogan also dispatched Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to several capitals with instructions to improve relations. And, on Tuesday last week, the president addressed EU ambassadors in Ankara, telling them that Turkey remains committed to maintaining strong relationship with them all. He stated in certain words that he wants to open a new page in the country’s relations with the EU. He used conciliatory language regarding relations with France, which were strained late last year, and announced that “exploratory talks” with Greece are scheduled to resume toward the end of this month. These talks, which started at the turn of the century, are still called “exploratory” despite the fact we are now in the 61st round.
Gulf Countries
The most visible turnaround, however, was with the Gulf countries. Erdogan had a telephone conversation with King Salman. Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri visited Istanbul, with rumors saying this was to repair Turkey’s damaged relations with the Gulf states.
For years, relations have been tense between Turkey and the UAE.
Emirati Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash has said the UAE would be ready to improve ties with Turkey if Ankara ceased being the primary backer of the Muslim Brotherhood. Whether or not Turkey will do so remains to be seen.
A sensitive aspect of Turkey’s relations with the Gulf countries is its close ties with Qatar. The closure of the Turkish military base in Qatar was one of the 13 conditions put forward by the Anti-Terror Quartet before relations with Doha would be resumed. Although the Gulf dispute has been resolved, if these states continue to insist on this issue then Turkey-Qatar ties are bound to face problems.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is said to have mediated efforts to improve Turkey’s ties with Israel, with whom he maintains good relations. And Turkish media reports have claimed that there are high-level contacts between the Turkish and Egyptian intelligence agencies. There are frequent stories in both countries that relations will be normalized sooner rather than later.
Almost all of these initiatives have taken place in a period of just one or two weeks. We may, therefore, presume that something is brewing in Turkey’s decision-making process. But it will not be easy to forgive and forget all that has been said and done between Turkey and all these countries in the recent past.
