The transformation in Turkish foreign policy after 2002

Abstract

After the Justice and Development Party, with its Islamic background, came to power in Turkey in 2002, the party found itself facing internal challenges related to the nature of the Turkish political system, the army’s control over political life in the country, and the deteriorating economic situation, and external challenges related to the decline in the importance of the Turkish role at the regional and international levels after the end of The Cold War and the absence of the communist threat, so the party had to adopt a package of internal reform policies aimed at strengthening its presence on the political scene and protecting it from the threat of the ban that is persecuting parties of Islamic origins in Turkey, in addition to striving diligently to improve the indicators of the Turkish economy, At the level of foreign

policy, the party adopted new approaches based on realizing the importance of Turkey’s strategic depth, which links it to the East and the West at the same time, and the necessity of benefiting from this depth in enhancing Turkey’s importance and its role on the regional and international arena, increasing economic dependence among the countries of the region, and adopting practical tools that enable it to Achieving this goal includes settling problems with neighboring countries and mediating to resolve regional disputes.

After 2011, Turkish foreign policy tools became insufficient in achieving Turkey’s goals of strengthening its presence on the regional scene, and the events that struck the Arab countries represented a difficult test for Turkey, especially in countries geographically close to Turkey, where security considerations became the primary determinant of the formulation of Turkish foreign policy. At this stage.