Transformation of Turkey's Foreign Policy

Towards Syria: Enemy Esad, Brother Esad,

Enemy Esed
Ercan TANRIVER
2015800417

Outline
Introduction
Rapprochement Process and Brother ESAD
After Arab Spring: Enemy ESED
Syrian Rebels or Terrorists?
Kurdish Issue
Refugees
Conclusion

Research Question
WHY DID TURKEY CHANGED ITS
FORIEGN POLICY TOWARDS SYRIA AFTER
THE ARAB SPRING?

Introduction
Before 1998 relations between Turkey and
Syria were very problematic.
Syrias claims over Hatay,
Disputes over water (Euphrates and Tigris
rivers ),
Syrias support to PKK.
Abdullah calan
Adana protocol in 1998.

Rapprochement Process and Brother ESAD

Cooperation between Turkey and Syria
against PKK terrorist organization,
JDP government
Strategic Depth and Zero Problem With Our
Neighbors.
An important political subject and an active
regional player,
As a mediator,
Soft Power,
The return of the Golan Heights to Syria.

Contd
Meetings of the Turkish-Syrian High Level
Strategic Cooperation Council,
Numerous bilateral agreements,
Lifted visa requirements,
Trade volume reached nearly $2.5 billion,
Turkey became largest trading partner of Syria,
amgen like a Schengen system in Europe.

After Arab Spring: Enemy ESED

Authoritarian regimes in Tunisia, Libya,

Egypt, and Syria,

Turkey decided to support people rather

than regimes in these countries.

Violence towards civilians,

Turkey cannot continue to support Syria

under these conditions.

More aggressive against Esad,

Brother Esad turned into Enemy

Esed

Turkey broke off all contact with the

Syrian government.

Syrian Rebels or Terrorists?

Syrian rebels,
Support to the opposition,
Representatives of the Syrian opposition,
The League of Arab States in Cairo
A new political system which takes its legitimacy from the people.

Kurdish Issue
Invasion of Iraq by US in 2003,
Stability and a territorial integrity of Iraq,
Independent Kurdish state,
Reawakened the mutual interest of Esad regime and the PKK against Turkey.
Barzani who is President of the Kurdish Regional Government,
Jihadist groups and Sunni Islamist radicals,
ISIS,
PYD (the Syrian sister organization of the PKK).

Refugees
Welcome anyone who was escaping the
brutality of the Assad regime,
Shelter and Traning,
Eurpean Commision Humanitarian Aid
and Civil Protection report in May, 2016,
More than 3.1 million refugees in
Turkey ,
The largest refugee population in the
World,
Economic costs,
Social and Political Balances.

Conclusion
Problematic relations changed after 1998,
Strategic Depth and Zero Problem With Our Neighbours policies,
Turkey supported people instead of regimes.
Esads violence against reformist groups may have been the short term reason
behind the deterioration of relations; however, Turkeys becoming entangled in
the Syrian civil war due to its approach to Syrian rebels, Kurdish issue and Syrian
refugees has further complicated the picture.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION