President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan is applying his assertive foreign policy at the expense of deterioration of relationships with allies and neighbors, reports Financial Times.
“Turkey’s desire to gain greater influence in its neighborhood is not new. But the increasingly bold pursuit of its goals has riled European and Arab leaders alike,” writes Financial Times.
A new approach favoring direct military action emerged, analysts say, after the failed coup against Mr. Erdogan in 2016 weakened the autonomy of the army and enabled the Turkish president to bolster his own power. Since then, Turkey has launched three separate military incursions into northern Syria, including October’s controversial assault on Kurdish militias that had fought for the US against Isis.
