Turkey’s “zero problems” foreign policy 

Whereas the U.S. has a common border with only Mexico and Canada, with whom it has good relations, Turkey is located at the crossroads of the volatile Balkans, the Middle East and the Caucasus. It shares a common border with Greece, Armenia, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, and looks across the Black Sea to Russia and the Mediterranean to Cyprus. At various times in recent history, Turkey has had conflicts with all of them.

In 2002 the Justice and Development [“AK”] Party, took power in Turkey. Since then, Turkey has embarked on a foreign policy called “zero problems policy with neighbors.” Its purpose is to develop friendly relations with all of them and, by doing so, not only eliminate old sources of friction and distrust between them but also position Turkey to serve as an intermediary to help settle regional problems and internal disputes that have bedeviled such countries as Bosnia, Iraq, and Israel/Palestine.

Five operational principles have guided Turkey’s foreign policy-making process. The first is domestic, since a country’s strength abroad ultimately rests on its strength at home. It tries to balance security and democracy. Turkey has a large Kurdish minority that has demanded greater freedom to use its language and participate in politics. Earlier refusal to permit this led to a multi-year “war on terror” that pitted the Turkish Army against Kurdish PKK rebels. This has ended. Now Turkey is trying to incorporate the Kurds into the political process.

Second, Turkey has moved to improve relations with Greece, Syria, Iraq, and Iran and to open talks with neighboring Armenia. It has developed warm relations with age-old enemy Russia. As relations have improved, trade has blossomed. Turkish companies are involved in major construction projects throughout the region, and Turkish products are much in demand.

Third, Turkey engages in pre-emptive peace diplomacy, by which it aims to avert crises before they escalate to a critical level. It mediated between Syria and Israel and tried to bring about Sunni-Shiite reconciliation in Iraq and between Lebanese and Palestinian factions. Along with Brazil, it offered its good offices to reprocess Iran’s nuclear fuel, thereby reducing the danger that Iran would use it for producing nuclear weapons. While not all of these efforts succeeded, they demonstrate Turkey’s growing regional influence and its acceptability as a trusted mediator.

Fourth, Turkey views its foreign policy as multi-dimensional, not as a “zero-sum” game. Thus, it maintains a strategic relationship with the U.S. through bilateral ties and as a member of NATO, while simultaneously pressing for admission to membership in the European Union and for stronger relations with Russia. Turkey regards these policies not as contradictory but as complementary: Turkey as “bridge”.

Finally, it aspires to a more active role in international organizations and on issues of global importance. It was a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, chaired a forum for dialogue among Balkan states, and participates in the G-20 economic forum and the Arab League. In the ongoing Libyan conflict, it has played a prominent role in evacuating civilians and providing medical care.

While its “zero problems” foreign policy has not achieved universal success – Cyprus, Armenia, and, recently, Israel are exceptions- it has raised the respect with which Turkey is held and provided a platform for expanding its reputation worldwide. In coming years, we can anticipate a growing role for Turkey on the world stage.

Martin Charwat

Martin Charwat is a Past-President of the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley and has visited Turkey twice in recent years.

On the Morning of July 19th, I woke up to the sounds of waves crashing against the shore and the cool, sweet smell of sea air. I ran out onto the balcony of my hotel room and stared out at the Aegean, watching as the purples, yellows and pinks of the sunrise collided with the dense blue of the sea. I could not help imagining all the people who had traveled those waters from ancient times until the present and what sort of history must lie at the bottom of the sea. It was breathtaking and once again I was reminded of how complex and astounding Turkey is. From its diverse peoples and cultures to its geography, its varied history and its delicately balanced domestic and international politics: Turkey is full of surprises. That is likely the reason why so many of the trip’s participants, myself included, fell back on words like “incredible,” “magnificent” and “awesome” when asked to describe our experiences in Turkey. A more nuanced vocabulary would run the risk of leaving out some crucial aspect of Turkey.

It seemed almost cruel that after only 11 hours we departed from the Aegean. We were pacified by promises that more wonders lay ahead. During the first days of the journey, I could not believe that every new day would bring something more awe-inspiring than what we had witnessed the previous day. I soon learned that in Turkey, there is always something equally if not more fantastic to do or see. There are always more ancient ruins, more natural wonders, more art, more music, more delicacies, and more people to experience. In the end, we were all forced to throw up our hands and admit that Turkey in 10 days was impossible. This trip was nothing more than an amuse bouche, just enough to wet our appetites. As we hugged goodbye at the airport in Istanbul, every one of us vowed to return to Turkey to finish the journey we had just begun, knowing of course, that it is impossible to “finish” exploring Turkey.

I am so grateful to the Turkish Cultural Institute for dreaming up and funding such a creative itinerary, filled to the brim with as many Turkish experiences as possible. I am also indebted to the World Affairs Council, particularly the Mid-Hudson branch, which made this experience possible for me. Our orientation session was so informative and provoked such lively discussions that I could hardly wait to board the plane to Turkey. Arriving in Turkey, I realized everyday how important the history and cultural lessons learned during the orientation enhanced my understanding of Turkey and allowed me to experience the country on a more profound level. I look forward to doing my best to repay their generosity by instilling in my students the same appreciation, admiration and affinity for Turkey that I carried home with me.