In any case, it has not come in for criticism from the White House. This is in contrast to European countries, as well as Oman, which has been critiqued. Ankara is also not stepping up to play the mediation role that Pakistan and Qatar have sought.<\/p>\n
As such, Turkey is in a unique position, though this isn\u2019t new for Ankara, which has often set its own, independent policies. Even though Turkey is a member of NATO, it has remained outside major world conflicts since the end of World War I.<\/p>\n
It should be recalled that the Ottoman Empire entered that war on the side of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Among the initiatives that convinced the \u201cSublime Porte\u201d to enter the war was the dispatch of the German warships Breslau and Goeben to Turkey, replacing ships that the Turks had ordered from Britain. Ankara then joined what was to become the losing side in the war, which led to the collapse of the empire and the emergence of modern Turkey.<\/p>\n
Possibly due to this, modern Turkish nationalism has often sought to remain outside of major conflicts. It was able to avoid World War II. During the Cold War, Turkey became a member of NATO and a friend of the United States and the West. However, Turkey remained concerned about the direction of the Global War on Terror after 9\/11, wary of the US\u2019s 2003 invasion of Iraq.<\/p>\n
Since then, Turkey has been ruled by the Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (AKP) \u2013 Justice and Development Party \u2013 with Islamic and conservative roots and linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.<\/p>\n
This is in contrast to the secular nationalist Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP) \u2013 Republican People\u2019s Party \u2013 that led Turkey for much of the 80 years from 1923 to 2003.<\/p>\n
![\"Syrian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/702383.jpeg\"\/)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrive for a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, February 4, 2025. (credit: REUTERS\/CAGLA GURDOGAN)<\/p>\n
The AKP initially sought to make Turkey more economically successful and even entertained the concept of growing closer to the European Union. However, over time, the AKP became more authoritarian and more interventionist abroad. This peaked in the years 2015-2020, during the Syrian civil war.<\/p>\n
In recent years, Turkey has become slightly less aggressive abroad. It still has its interests in Syria and Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as a global posture that sees Ankara as a link between the Islamic and Turkish worlds. However, it views the changing world order and the attempts to exploit the power vacuum with apprehension.<\/p>\n
Turkey seeks ties to US as Trump administration zig-zags<\/p>\n
Turkey\u2019s leader has sought to cultivate close ties with the Trump administration, though it can also see how the White House sometimes zig-zags on policy.<\/p>\n
In 2025, the US administration was seeking to end the Israel-Hamas War and achieve peace deals. However, in 2026, it has become more interventionist, notably with the Iran war, as well as very critical of some of its traditional allies. The US is also very close to Israel, and Ankara is likely wary of this.<\/p>\n
Some articles have appeared in pro-Israel circles suggesting that Turkey is the \u201cnext\u201d Iran. This has raised eyebrows in Ankara, which appears to fear that Israel is seeking regional hegemony. As a NATO power with a large defense industrial base, Turkey can imagine a potential clash.<\/p>\n
How might the clash develop? It could develop over tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. It could be in Syria. Ankara is aware of the realpolitik that leads regional powers to clash, and thus, it has sought to improve ties with Saudi Arabia and the Sunnis. This development has led to more concerns in Jerusalem that this Sunni bloc of countries might replace the Iranian-backed proxies or \u201cShia crescent.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is where Turkey is treading more carefully. Rather than bashing Israel \u2013 as Ankara did in 2024 \u2013 using the Israel-Hamas War as an excuse, Turkey\u2019s politicians are taking more of a \u201cwait and see\u201d approach.<\/p>\n
Ankara’s crackdown on domestic opposition is not new. The AKP has long sought to remove what it claims is a \u201cdeep state\u201d via mass arrests of the opposition. It has targeted Kurdish left-wing political groups, students, European-linked NGOs, and also now the CHP. The latest target is Ozgur Ozel<\/a>, leader of the CHP.<\/p>\n \u201cTurkey is emerging as a long-term winner from the US-Israeli war against Iran, which has provided Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, room to accelerate an anti-democratic backslide with no global repercussions,\u201d The Telegraph says.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only has he seized the moment to stage a crackdown on his opposition while the world\u2019s gaze was averted, but he has also managed to boost Turkey\u2019s standing on the global stage.\u201d<\/p>\n US ambassador to Turkey may play role in US Iraq policy<\/p>\n There are many issues now for Turkey. Ankara is working on a potential deal with the Partiya Karkeren Kurdistane (PKK) \u2013 the Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party \u2013 which would see that party dissolved.<\/p>\n It is also working on a deal with Armenia. It is balancing its support for Ukraine while also working with Russia. Ankara is also seeking to help Syria emerge as a strong state.<\/p>\n