Just a few years ago, Europe headed Turkey’s agenda. … But pro-European euphoria proved short-lived: For all practical purposes, the accession negotiations are now at an impasse. Euro-skepticism is now at an all-time high in Turkey, fueled by some European political leaders’ rhetoric opposing Turkey’s accession, and by the EU’s own failure to dispel doubts about the feasibility of Turkey’s eventual membership. …
[J]ust as Europe is looking more distant, the Middle East is looming larger, as Turkey shifts its attention from Brussels to Beirut and beyond. The frustrations of dealing with an undecided Europe have led Turkish policymakers to focus their efforts on an area where the expected return on their investment is more immediate and more concrete. …
There can be no doubt that growing foreign policy activism, especially in relation to the Middle East, has begun to enhance Turkey’s role and influence in its own region. Indeed, Turkey is now firmly set to become a regional power, with its recent election to the UN Security Council a further testimony to its diplomatic prowess. But does Turkey’s shift of focus southward and toward regional power status come at the expense of the country’s EU ambitions? Access the full article>>
