Turski spoljnopolitički „preokret“: Slučaj Sirije
Turkish Foreign Policy “Turn”: The Case of Syria

Summary/Abstract: The Justice and Development Party’s rise to power in 2002 has initiated an unprecedented momentum of the Turkish foreign policy, which has not been seen since the era of the late Turkish Prime Minister and President Turgut Ozal. In this paper, by presenting the deterioration of Turkey’s relations with Syria, we shall deal with the uncertain future of the “Zero Problems with Neighbors” policy, which is considered one of the basic principles of Davutoğlu’s foreign policy. The abandonment of this principle has raised doubts that Turkey, despite the fact that it has proclaimed the necessity of obtaining “central country” status, has not given up its Cold War role of “NATO’s frontline outpost” in the Middle East. In other words, Turkey’s sudden “democratic self-awakening” has caused fears in Iran and also in Moscow, which apart from its clear support to Damascus has increased its military presence in the highly sensitive area of Northern Caucasus.

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