The roots of Turkey’s balancing act with Russia on Ukraine
With an election looming, Erdogan knows that he needs to keep Ankara’s economic relationship with Moscow intact.
With an election looming, Erdogan knows that he needs to keep Ankara’s economic relationship with Moscow intact.
The Turkish president got himself in hot water this week over comments that were widely viewed as defending Putin.
A renewed agreement will ensure stronger ties in some areas, while setting into motion new challenges elsewhere.
If the deal holds, the world may dodge the worst of a food crisis that threatens to starve millions across the globe.
Erdogan finally acquiesced to Finland and Sweden’s membership in the Atlantic Alliance after failing to get everything he wanted in return.
Rather than squeezed or sidelined, Turkey’s geopolitical standing looks a lot better than it did a few months ago.
Jamal Khashoggi’s murder appears to be fading into rearview as both Riyadh and Ankara turn toward deescalating tensions.
Erdogan’s gamble is a game of high-stakes poker, given that Russia is as much a partner as it is a threat.
Recent violence in Jerusalem is complicating normalization efforts in the Middle East.
A trip to several countries in the wake of the Russian invasion conveyed a sense of why not all capitals are on board with the U.S. approach.
Now that the center of gravity is away from the Middle East and back on Europe, there are renewed opportunities for common ground.
Turkey, economically squeezed and looking to mend ties, suddenly turns the case over to Riyadh.
Increasingly, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Turkey, Iran, and others are realizing their ability to hedge for their own interests is narrowing.
Despite NATO membership, Ankara’s interests across Eurasia likely won’t bring it into direct conflict with Moscow.
China and Turkey have key roles to play in this crisis with high level officials in each country warning Russia against an invasion.
Recent regional developments are being driven by local dynamics, not great power rivalry. But China’s role in the Middle East is sure to grow.
Tehran vowed to purge American influence from the region. On that score, their record is decidedly mixed.
The Horn of Africa country has joined the vortex of Middle East geopolitics, leaving the Tigrayans vulnerable to a crushing onslaught.
Interesting signs that the region’s powers are less interested in armed conflict than they are about forms of gaining influence today.
If Washington intervened in the Mideast less often, the bases and strategic alliance would matter less.
How Damascus could become the next arena for geopolitical competition between the region’s Arab power centers and Iran.