The Economist: Ankara began to reconsider its antagonism to the Arab world

PanARMENIAN.Net - Frustrated by the uncertainty in Europe, Turkey began to reconsider its antagonism to the Arab world. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish Republic drew his eyes to the West and, in particular, to the United States. Such developments are quite logical, bearing in mind the strength of the Turkish economy, the revival of the Islamic element after frustration associated with the intransigence of the West regarding Turkey's membership in the EU, The Economist wrote.



Since 2002, Turkey is guided by new foreign policy that uses "soft power of trade, along with historic ties" to establish stability outside of Turkey. "Such a shift would have been impossible without dramatic changes in Turkey. The Arab world welcomes the "return" of Turkey to the policy of moderate counterweight to Iran, and in light of the fact that it can become a gateway to Europe, " the article says.



The author emphasizes that the Turkish officials, however, argue that Ankara's interest in the Islamic world does not mean a cooled relations with the West. Turkey serves as a useful bridge instead, a regional force for peace quite compatible with Islamic elements. "Ankara's Western allies have nothing against it, but everything could change if Turkey's hopes to join the EU evaporate or if Turkey is viewed as a weapon to put pressure on Iran, " the observer of The Economist wrote.



"Turkey had to pay for this policy a price, and this price was the deteriorated relations with Israel after Erdogan had publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Tel Aviv's actions in the Gaza Strip. In any case, officials of the Turkish government stated that they have no intention to suspend relations with Israel. Israel has even suggested to Turkey the protected from the lobby in the U.S. Congress. The latter intended to punish Turkey for questioning the fact of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire. Turkish officials say they do not intend to break relations with Israel, and believe they may be a useful interlocutor with the Jewish state," the article says.