Post-Coup Turkey and its Relevance to Middle East Dynamics

Abstract

Foreign policy of Turkey has re-surfaced in the academic, political and diplomatic circles in the aftermath of July 2016
attempted coup. This renewed debate is raising question on the Turkish foreign policy with regards to the European
Union, NATO, its trustworthiness in fight against the ‘Islamic State’ in Middle East and its growing nexus with Iran. This
paper focuses on the reasons of recent developments in Turkey domestically, which is actually the result of conflict
between AKP government and Gulen Movement’s followers over the control of state institutions which ended up with a
coup attempt. These developments have certain implications on Turkey’s existing foreign policy. This paper argues that a
certain area of foreign relations, such as ties with the US and NATO needs to be revised but the existing focus on Middle
East region will remain the same with its “Strategic Depth Doctrine” in the years to come.