Istanbul attackExplaining the Istanbul bombing: Turkey’s six foreign policy sins
The terror attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport overshadowed two major headline events: Turkey’s bridging the rifts with Russia and normalizing relations with Israel. Both these events had to do with Turkey attempting to change course on policies that may well have opened the door to the airport bombing. Turkey’s view of the Kurds – in both Turkey and Syria – as the major threat Turkey was facing had led it toturn a blind eye to Islamic radicalism brewing in its backyard. In fact, Turkey helped ISIS by buying oil from ISIS-controlled oil fields, and allowed thousands of foreigners to go through Turkey on their way to join ISIS. Turkey hoped that ISIS would defeat the Syrian Kurds, and also take out President Assad, Turkey’s nemesis, but ISIS has failed on both fronts. Turkey has begun to distance itself from ISIS, and in response the Islamist organization has begun to launch suicide attacks against Turkish targets. Burying the hatchets with Russia and Israel might make Turkey more secure in the region, and signal to the rest of the international community that more substantive positive changes in Turkish foreign policy are yet to come. Only time will tell if they would include a more resolved Turkish response against ISIS.
Dr. Sibel Ocktay // Source: eis.edu
You don’t have to be an avid follower of international news to have heard about the terror attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport – Turkey’s biggest and Europe’s third largest hub for air travel. Most likely carried out by ISIS, the attack killed forty-five people and wounded hundreds of others on 28 June.
The attack overshadowed two major headline events. Both these events, ironically, had to do with Turkey attempting to change course on policies that may well have opened the door to the airport bombing.
As a scholar who focuses on foreign policy analysis and political leadership in Europe and the Middle East, I’d like to explain how all of these events can be seen in the broader context of what I call Turkey’s six foreign policy sins.
The overshadowed headlines
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan recently sent a letter of apology to Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing his regrets for downing a Russian jet in late 2015 near the Turkey-Syria border.
The news surprised many. Since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2012, Turkey emphasized its right to take any necessary measures against airspace violations. Erdogan’s apology suggests either an admission of negligent behavior – Russia has denied allegations of violation – or an indirect confession of how badly Turkey needs Russia. It may be both. A plunge in the number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey might explain Erdogan’s apology, not to mention Moscow’s embargo on Turkish agricultural products or the constraints that Turkish businesses face in Russia.
Erdogan’s apology to Putin came amid a recent deal between Israel and Turkey. The two countries have been in a rift since May 2010. That’s when the Israeli navy intercepted a humanitarian aid flotilla headed to Gaza. The shipment was sent by Turkish charity organizations. In stopping it, Israeli soldiers killed nine Turkish citizens. The parties agreed yesterday to restore diplomatic ties. Turkey accepted Israel’s blockade of Gaza and its authority to monitor Turkish aid to Gaza. In return, Israel agreed to allocate $20 million to compensate the families involved and agreed to allow Turkish businesses to develop water and energy infrastructure in Gaza. Israel is also expected to work with Turkey to transport natural gas to Europe.
