Türkiye’s Approach towards Syria, Iraq

How Türkiye’s strategic shift is shaping global dynamics, as it balances between East and West.

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Türkiye today is now more than a regional power. Ankara is trying to be a global player with its own interests. There are many international issues which have placed Türkiye in the position of an effective and important global player, such as the Ukrainian war, building state institutions in Somalia, internal conflicts in Libya, in addition to the power struggle in the eastern Mediterranean. Türkiye has its own foreign policies towards Iraq and Syria, which will continue to constitute basic dynamics of both regional and Turkish politics.

After the coup attempt on July 15, 2016, Türkiye began working to achieve its interests through its foreign policy which is based on the approach of balancing between the western and eastern worlds, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. It also worked to consolidate its military and security power. Türkiye attaches great importance to root out the threats it faces, which is a new vision adopted by Erdoğan. This was represented in the geopolitical campaigns which Türkiye has led as its policy towards Iraq and Syria in recent years. Türkiye is continuously strengthening its military presence within the borders of these two neighbouring countries through its army operations aimed at securing its border strip, while giving importance to preserving the territorial integrity of both countries. It expresses its desire to make the authorities stronger in those two countries where the governments which maintain ethnic and sectarian balance, do not allow any external interference, and liquidate non-state armed entities.

[by Can Acun in Arabic Post]