What to Make of Turkey’s New Counterterrorism Policy

By virtue of Turkey’s geography and the Islamic State’s rapid expansion, Ankara is facing a very serious threat, not least destabilisation from within by followers of the militants. Turkey has now chosen its camp in the summer of 2015 and has the backing of NATO.

Yet, the simultaneous decision to hammer the PKK is not seen in the West as a wise move: it puts Turkey’s long-term social cohesion, economic prosperity, and international credibility at great risk. In the short term, Turkish President Erdoğan is playing dangerously high stakes.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Turkey bombs Islamic State targets in Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-bombs-islamic-state-targets-in-syria/

ESO: Background information: Coalition Must Seek a Common Goal in Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/coalition-must-seek-a-common-goal-in-syria/

ESO: Background information: How the Turkish elections changed the foreign policy of Turkey http://www.europeansources.info/record/how-the-turkish-elections-changed-the-foreign-policy-of-turkey/

ESO: Background information: NATO calls emergency meeting at Turkey's request http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-calls-emergency-meeting-at-turkeys-request/

The Conversation, 11.08.15: Is Turkey’s president profiting from escalating violence? http://theconversation.com/is-turkeys-president-profiting-from-escalating-violence-45921

ECFR: Commentary, 27.07.15: Ankara’s risky offensive http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_ankaras_risky_offensive3081

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