Milliyet: Turkey's foreign policy changing
Changes in Turkey's foreign policy are evident, Milliyet daily columnist Sami Kohen writes.
"The West is concerned over Turkey's tending to the Middle East. During the cold war, Turkey was west-oriented, without any chance to pursue a more independent policy. Then, with alternating international conditions and balances, Turkey started observing its own national interests.
The situation is different now. Turkey has changed, with its developing political infrastructure and economy. It's transforming into a regional actor and building close relations with the neighbors, specifically Russia, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Relations with Iran appear as most dangerous for the West
At that, Turkey doesn't intend to renounce U.S., NATO and EU values. Changes imply establishment of new ties and multilateral strategy, which, however, doesn't demand changes in the main foreign policy trends," the article says.
"The West is concerned over Turkey's tending to the Middle East. During the cold war, Turkey was west-oriented, without any chance to pursue a more independent policy. Then, with alternating international conditions and balances, Turkey started observing its own national interests.
The situation is different now. Turkey has changed, with its developing political infrastructure and economy. It's transforming into a regional actor and building close relations with the neighbors, specifically Russia, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Relations with Iran appear as most dangerous for the West
At that, Turkey doesn't intend to renounce U.S., NATO and EU values. Changes imply establishment of new ties and multilateral strategy, which, however, doesn't demand changes in the main foreign policy trends," the article says.
