Changing Face of Turkey

摘要

Turkey is emerging from the shadows of the Western alliance and trying to position itself as the most powerful, diplomatically agile and economically strong regional power in the Eurasian region and among the Muslim countries. It is not afraid of striking out independently and is dabbling in events in its entire periphery. It already has gained some respect in the Arab street if not in the Arab capitals, has put Israel on notice and caused anxieties in Western capitals. It hopes to capitalise on the global power shift taking place to emerge as the lynchpin of security and stability in the region. Yet its success is not preordained or certain. Its challenges will grow as it becomes more proactive and its capacity to be a mediator of conflicts will be tested as it enters the minefield of Middle Eastern, Caucasian and Balkan politics. The reset of US-Russia relations will also have a bearing on Turkey's ability to expand its geopolitical influence.