Return of the „Zero Problem With Neighbors” Policy? The Transformation of Turkish Foreign Policy

Abstract

The Turkish foreign policy has been dynamically changing recently. ‘Zero problem with Neighbours’ Policy which was initiated by the former foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu seems to return on the agenda. The deteriorating relations with the Western and neighbouring states and the growing economic problems has given no other options to Türkiye to normalize its relations not only with its neighbours which led to some results like in case of Israel, Saud-Arabia or the UAE. The paper argues that this change stems from domestic political and economic factors as well as recent Middle Eastern détente process which decreased the competitions between regional powers. It also highlights that the normalisation efforts could not reach meaningful results with Western allies and the Turkish foreign policy deems them expendable for domestic political considerations.