The Ak Party's Middle East Policy and Reviews of the American Administration and Western Scholars on the Policy

Abstract

AK Party government, which came to power in 2002, has pursued a more active foreign policy in the Middle East. Until 2012, it is observed that there is a harmony between foreign policy principles of the Western countries and those of Turkey about the Middle East. However after the emergence of internal fighting in Turkey, the western countries and experts have begun to cricitize the Turkey's Middle East policy in a radical way. The Western countries and experts do not approve the Turkey's New Middle perspective, its relations with the Syrian radical groups (like al-Nusra), its negative attitude toward the PYD and its close contacts with regional Sunni groups (like Muslim Brothershood). Although Turkey do not agree with these criticisms, its some behaviors have reinforced their perceptions. Nonetheless, deterioration of the bilteral relations is temporary. Fundamentally USA continues to see Turkey as its strategically important regional ally.