Turkey's Quest for Strategic Autonomy in an Era of Multipolarity

Introduction

Turkey is a middle power strategically positioned at the intersection of key regions including the Middle East, Europe and the Black Sea region. The country has developed formidable military capabilities and a diverse economy, which is coupled by an ambitious foreign policy ethos merging Turkey’s Ottoman past, the AKP’s vision of Islam, plus a strong sense of patriotism and Turkey’s position in the world. Due to its geopolitical location and multilayered connectivity with Europe and the non-Western world, global and regional developments directly feed into Turkish foreign policy. In this context, the 2008 global financial crisis, the retraction of the United States (US) from the Middle East, and the ensuing Arab uprisings presented before Turkey significant opportunities as a dramatic shift from a unipolar to a multipolar global order appeared to be underway. Middle powers, such as Turkey, could become more assertive and active within the shifting global and regional order. However, global power transitions also require caution and careful risk management, as systemic risks and uncertainties may increase.