What is the reason for flexibility in Turkey's aggressive foreign policy?

After a long period of aggressive and ideological pursuits, Turkey's foreign policy is now taking a realistic turn and there are signs of improving relations with regional powers.

Turkey's adoption of a conciliatory approach to its relations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt after years of strained relations is a clear indication in this direction.

This rapprochement is evident in other areas as well, and Turkey seems to be backing away from oil and gas exploration activities in the disputed parts of the Red Sea following the imposition of limited sanctions by the European Union.

Despite recent tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey is trying to maintain relations with both countries. In this way, it has sought to maintain parallel relations with China and the United States.

President Recap Tayyib Erdogan's has said that Turkey does not face any unresolved issues with any country that puts its national interest first.

He said he was determined to increase the number of his friends in the coming days and try to reduce hostilities.

President Erdogan's tone has not been consistent with the language of the country's media and official statements over the past few years, in which religion and nationality have prevailed.

Reconciliation with rivals

Turkey has pursued a regional policy since 2013, adopting a strong anti-opposition rhetoric and inviting figures from organizations such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. As a result, its relations with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates deteriorated, and its support for the Syrian rebels in the Syrian civil war continued, leading to Turkey's isolation in the region. Economic and diplomatic losses continued to rise. As a result, Turkish officials have recently expressed a desire to mend strained relations with Egypt since the ouster of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morse in 2013.

Ibrahim Qalan, a spokesman for the president in Turkey, told Bloomberg on March 6 that a new chapter in relations with Egypt and the Gulf could begin.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mewl tacho   said on April 15 that Turkey would send an official delegation to visit Egypt in May. According to reports, the Egyptian government is demanding that Turkey ban Egyptian TV channels from Istanbul in exchange for restoring relations with Egypt. Turkey has recently sent goodwill messages to Saudi Arabia, with which it has long been embroiled in a regional power struggle.

Turkey continued to support Qatar during the sanctions imposed on Qatar by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, which led to Saudi Arabia banning Turkish imports.

Turkey, meanwhile, has stepped up its search for natural energy resources in disputed parts of the eastern Red Sea, following a limited embargo by the European Union. Turkey later resumed talks with Greece, emphasizing a positive agenda with Brussels, although it did not ease tensions.

In a statement issued on March 24, Recip Tayyip Erdogan said, "We will reshape our relations, from the United States to Russia, the European Union and the Arab world, keeping in mind Turkey's interests and the nation's expectations." Being at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and Asia, Turkey does not have the luxury of turning its face away from the East or the West.

Russia, Ukraine and China

Realistic behavior in Turkey's foreign policy can be seen in many other places as well.

Amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey has taken a middle but difficult path in trying to maintain ties with the two countries in its trade, energy and defense sectors.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement on April 13 that the path of dialogue with Russia has yielded positive results.

In the same speech, he also expressed his intention to take steps to enhance Turkey-Ukraine relations and ensure peace in the region.

Mohammad Barlas, a columnist for Turkey's leading pro-government newspaper, wrote on April 12, summarizing Turkey's behavior: "Turkey's support for Ukraine does not necessarily reflect Turkey's desire to quarrel with Russia. ۔ '

In relations with China, Turkey has sought to downplay its differences with Beijing over alleged abuses of Turkish-speaking Uighur Muslims.

Turkey is home to the largest number of Uighur immigrants, but despite protests from nationalists and human rights activists, Ankara has in recent years called for improved trade and diplomatic relations with Beijing.

Top Turkish officials have praised media co-operation between the two countries, and Turkey initially preferred the Chinese-made corona vaccine to its vaccination program.

This is another clear example of the change in Turkish foreign policy. In July 2009, Prime Minister Erdogan described China's crackdown on Uighur Muslims as "almost genocidal."

With so many contentious issues in relations with the United States, Turkish officials have expressed hope that a flexible and mutually beneficial relationship will be established under Biden.

The voice of the oppressed

Realistic change in recent years looks very different from Ankara's behavior.

Turkish officials have long praised the correctness and principledness of their foreign policy, which has been a spokesman for oppressed people and Muslims around the world.

Statements of the supremacy of Islam have dominated official statements, TV dramas, President Erdogan's speeches, and video films released from the presidential palace.

In a song released during the ruling party's election campaign, Erdogan was described as the voice of the oppressed, the voice of freedom in a silent world, the representative of the people, the just and the hope of millions.

Recent changes in foreign policy do not reflect this thinking, and one political commentator, Season One, commented that it was too flexible and ambiguous.

However, the change has been welcomed by both critics and supporters of the government.

Murad Yatin, a senior journalist, wrote on March 9 that reconciliation can take place if there are mutual interests and not every setback and every reconciliation is bad. He said that Turkey had reached the economic climax of bad relations with its neighbors.

Another Saba columnist wrote that efforts to improve relations with Egypt are part of Ankara's policy of improving relations with the United States and the European Union.

He wrote that consideration was also being given to improving relations with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel. All these steps are being taken against the backdrop of the rapidly changing situation in the region following the analysis of the political and economic situation in the region.

Will it be easier to improve relations with rival countries in the region?

Realism has always been a good practice, but it has its drawbacks. An example of this is the difficult task of maintaining relations with both Ukraine and Russia in times of extreme tension.

Turkey acquired the S400 missile defense system from Russia, and what has happened since then shows how difficult it is to maintain good relations with Russia and the United States at the same time.

Following Turkey's defense deal with Russia, the United States imposed sanctions on Turkish officials and excluded it from its F-35 fighter jet program despite being a member of NATO. Amidst these complications, Turkey has not yet been able to activate the S400 defense system.

Improving relations with rival countries in the region will not be an easy task. The foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the United Arab Emirates met in Cyprus on April 16, after which the Turkish media called the meeting an anti-Turkish coalition.

In a situation where Turkey sees many powers emerging in the world, with tug-of-war and new alliances emerging, Turkey will continue its efforts in the hope that it will find someone in the region. Can get a better position.