In an interview with the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations website, Hanieh Panahlou stated that Turkey seeks to advance regional and European policies and define its position as a key player on the world scene. This approach will continue after the changes of the 2023 elections, adding: Ankara is still trying to increase its influence in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus regions while trying to maintain its strategic interests and establish its position as a mediator, important player, and regional power, and this often leads to Turkey’s role-playing in regional conflicts and crises.

Saying that Turkey’s macro approach in the region is followed by a combination of pragmatism and willingness to participate in regional affairs actively, she continued: Focusing on the Middle East is one of the critical aspects of this regional policy. Efforts to mediate in regional conflicts, such as the Qatar crisis, also show the country’s willingness to be a mediator in the region.

The analyst of Turkish affairs, while referring to the country’s relations with the countries of the Balkans, Caucasus, and Central Asia, said: Turkey is trying to be a bridge between Europe and Asia and position itself as a key transit center for energy and trade, and by using its strategic position and infrastructure projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the TurkStream natural gas pipeline, increase its regional influence and economic integration.

While explaining the strategic importance of relations with the Arab world for Turkey, especially the countries of the Persian Gulf,  Panahlou pointed to the appointment of new ambassadors to Turkey and Egypt after about a decade of severe relations between the two countries and added: In the past years, Turkey’s efforts to explore resources in the Mediterranean Sea led to the formation of a united front against the country between Egypt, the Zionist regime, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Greece, and now Erdogan is seeking to change this situation. Ankara seeks to maintain economic partnerships, attract investment and promote diplomatic relations with those countries and the Zionist regime.

According to the expert on Turkish affairs, about the improvement of Qatar’s relations with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Turkey is trying to reduce its competition with Egypt in Libya, and considering the economic challenges, Ankara is no longer willing to pay for a military presence in Libya. This is why it responded positively to Egypt’s requests to stop the activities of Muslim Brotherhood members and not to extend the visas of some of its leaders. As a result of such developments, we witness the weakening of Turkey’s relations with the Brotherhood. However, the support for this movement continues, and this issue will remain among the important challenges between the two countries.

The Secretary of the Turkish Studies Department at the Iranian Association of West Asian Studies, referring to Erdogan’s criticisms during the election campaign of the Western positions regarding Turkey and also the unwillingness of the United States for his re-election victory, stated: Despite all such criticisms, Turkey is still primarily focused on its long-standing desire to join the European Union and has made significant efforts to align its policies, laws, and institutions with the standards of the European Union, although the positions of this country and the competitions it has made in the Mediterranean is not pleasant for European countries and the US, and we see their support for the front against Turkey in conflicts. But in any case, to improve the economic situation, in addition to attracting capital from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Turkey needs underground discoveries in the Mediterranean Sea, which improving relations with Egypt and Greece can help this goal.

He pointed to Turkey’s efforts to advance negotiations with Greece and reduce tensions with that country. He continued: Turkey seeks to strengthen political and economic relations with EU member states to introduce itself as a reliable partner and bridge between Europe and the Middle East in diplomatic relations, expanding trade and investment and strengthening cooperation in areas such as energy, security, and immigration. Joining the European Union is very strategic for Turkey. However, such development has a vague perspective, and Turkey’s path to becoming a member of the European Union has faced many challenges and obstacles. The accession process has been slow, and there have been differences and tensions between Turkey and the European Union.

Saying that the challenges of Turkey and Europe have led to a more complex and different approach in pursuing European policy by Turkey, Panahlou explained: In recent years, Turkey has pursued alternative partnerships and collaborations outside the European Union, especially in the Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia. This variety of partnerships has been aimed at improving Turkey’s economic and political position and, simultaneously, as a strong point in the country’s negotiations and bargaining with the European Union.

The analyst of Turkey affairs went on to explain Turkey’s approach in interacting with major world powers, called balanced, independent, and pragmatic positions among the characteristics of Turkey’s foreign policy and pointed to the historical tensions and geopolitical inequalities between Turkey and Russia in recent years and added: Erdogan is trying to develop pragmatic relations and cooperation in the field of energy, defense, and regional conflicts, including in the Astana process for Syria. Turkey’s interaction with Russia stems from the desire to diversify partnerships, protect security interests and take advantage of opportunities for economic cooperation. Currently, Turkey’s mediation in the Russia-Ukraine war is one of the clear examples of this target. During Zelensky’s trip to Turkey, it was immediately announced that Russian officials would also visit Ankara.

Panahlou listed the economic challenges as the most important and priority issue facing the new government in that country and noted: In the new era, Turkey is trying to reduce tensions while maintaining the balance of power, wherever its interests are secured, and mitigate its problems with Egypt and Syria by reducing military measures and avoiding past tensions in the Middle East, and in this regard, we have also witnessed an increase in cooperation with Jordan.