FROM SEPTEMBER 11 TO THE ARAB SPRING TURKEY’S THE MIDDLE EAST POLICY

Abstract

The end of the Cold War caused already existing conflicts in the Middle East to become more intense. Turkey has been one of the countries which have a substantial influence on the Middle East’s security. In the period which started with attacks on the US on September 11, 2001, regional balance in the Middle East was restructured and Turkey’s potential for contributing to regional stability was affected by those incidents. This study, within the scope of Turkey’s foreign policy principles, focuses on Turkey’s potential for contributing the stability in the Middle East in the period which started on September 11, 2001, and came to an end with the emergence of the Arab Spring. The most important issues related to the stability of the Middle East within this period, namely Iraq, Iran, Palestine-Israeli conflict, and events in Lebanon, are analyzed from the perspective of the threats they posed to the regional stability by taking into consideration Turkey’s potential for contributing to bringing an end those problems.