The amazing speed of Turkey’s foreign policy U-turn

With a Kurdish insurgency brewing at home and US and Russian support for Kurdish forces on Turkey’s southern flank in Syria, an overhaul in foreign policy presented itself as an unavoidable strategic imperative for Turkey in the spring of 2016.

Turkey and Russia resumed ties in late June 2016. Turkey also normalised relations with Israel. Turkey was also working to improve relations with Egypt.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: With friends like these: Turkey, Russia, and the end of an unlikely alliance http://www.europeansources.info/record/with-friends-like-these-turkey-russia-and-the-end-of-an-unlikely-alliance/

ESO: Background information: Turkey, Israel sign deal to normalise ties after six years http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-israel-sign-deal-to-normalise-ties-after-six-years/

ESO: Background information: Turkey apologises for downing Russian jet, hopes to improve relations http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-apologises-for-downing-russian-jet-hopes-to-improve-relations/

Hürriyet Daily News, 07.07.16: Turkey, Iran seek joint efforts against terrorism http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-iran-seek-joint-efforts-against-terrorism-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=101347&NewsCatID=510

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 14.07.16: What Next After Turkey’s Foreign Policy Recalibration? http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=64088

The Economist, 15.07.16: What is the Turkish for rapprochement? Turkey is suddenly making friends, not enemies http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21702311-president-erdogans-attitudes-israel-russia-and-syria-have-undergone-sudden-reset-turkey?

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