The Turkey Analyst

Vol. 4 no. 17, 12 September 2011

ANALYSIS

Turkish-Israeli Relations: Empty Threats or a Looming Crisis?
Gareth H. Jenkins
On September 2, 2011, Turkey downgraded its diplomatic ties with Israel from ambassadorial to second secretary level and suspended all bilateral military agreements between the two countries. On September 8, 2011, in an interview on Al Jazeera, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan vowed that Turkey would provide naval escorts for any future attempts by Turkish aid vessels to breach the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. He also warned that Turkey would “prevent Israel from unilaterally exploiting the natural resources of the eastern Mediterranean.”

The View from Beijing: Growing Enthusiasm over Turkey
Richard Weitz
Chinese analysts have been pleasantly surprised by the stupendous growth in their cultural, economic, and political ties with Turkey after the Cold War. They describe both China and Turkey as two emerging powers that are now entering a new strategic partnership that could reshape Eurasia. Chinese scholars consider Turkey an increasingly important country for China due to its growing economy, increasingly independent and influential diplomacy, and pivotal location between Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East.

What the Columnists Say
Turkish commentators in general take the view that the Turkish-Israeli “divorce” is only a natural development. Regardless of whether or not they subscribe to the hard line stance of the AKP government, they tend to find that Turkey’s estrangement from Israel is in line with what current geopolitical and economic realities dictate. However, the point is also made that a Turkey that challenges Israel needs to have its own house in order; specifically, it is noted by some that Turkey will remain vulnerable as long as the Kurdish question has not been resolved. The conventional wisdom among the most ardently pro-government commentators is nonetheless that Turkey is strong enough to both challenge Israel and crush the PKK.

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by Halil M. Karaveli, October 2010.



The Turkey Analyst
The Turkey Analyst is a publication of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Joint Center, designed to bring authoritative analysis and news on the rapidly developing domestic and foreign policy issues in Turkey. It is published weekly, and includes a topical analysis, as well as translations and summaries of selected Turkish news reports. It is edited by Halil M. Karaveli.

The Turkey Analyst welcomes article submissions.

The Joint Center
The Joint Center, created in 2005, is the product of the merger of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, and the Silk Road Studies Program, at the Stockholm-based Institute for Security and Development Policy.

The Turkey Initiative
The Joint Center launched a Turkey Initiative in 2006 in order to improve understand of Turkish domestic and foreign affairs in Europe and the United States.

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