Analysis of Turkey’s Relations with the EU and the US in the light of 2011 Arab Revolts

Abstract

Arab revolts have created a new political environment for Turkey, in a region where it has just started to be a more dynamic and active player with multilateral aims. Economic problems, unemployment, political oppression and corruption created social unrest in Turkey’s neighborhood, and jeopardized its established fnancial and economic ties with these countries. Before these revolts, there had been debates on the orientation of Turkish foreign policy, about Turkey turning to the east while abandoning its historical legacy of being a loyal western partner. But it has been observed that although there have been differences between the EU, American and Turkish policies, methods and attitudes towards the regional countries, Turkey has put effort into balancing its position, both as a regional country and as a western partner in NATO, while showing harmonization with the EU’s neighborhood policy. This balance has required economic, political and military efforts’ coexistence in the application of policies towards the region, the EU and the USA. This paper summarizes the historical legacies of Turkey’s relations with its western partners and analyzes these in relation to the uprisings in its near neighborhood.