Syria: Iran and Turkey’s First Regional Cooperation Project

The first point that should be mentioned is that the neo-Ottoman view, deep strategic doctrine and the failure of the policy of looking at the West led Turkey to set the policy of looking towards the East on its foreign policy agenda. Based on the policy of looking towards the East, Turkey attempted to deepen and strengthen its relations with the countries of the Middle East to the extent that the tension between this country and its neighbors has reached zero. The developments in the Arab world and the Islamic Awakening prepared the ground for Turkey’s more significant roles in the Middle East. But Turkey’s position with regard to these developments, particularly Syria, diverted this country’s regional policy regarding its neighbors to the point that Turkey confronted Iran in the Syrian crisis. Therefore, what was supposed to be the strong point of the foreign policy of Turkey’s Islamists became its weak point.

1.       One of the most important foreign policy priorities of Turkey has been the development and promotion of the economic status of this country in the international system. Turkey’s leaders claim and expect that this country will be among the 16 superior economies of the world by 2020. In order to reach this objective, an interactive and developmental foreign policy is needed; a foreign policy which was defined and pursued on the grounds of the deep strategic Davutoglu doctrine. But the developments of the Arab world, in particular the crisis in Syria, led this policy towards a deadlock which has led to great economic expenses for Turkey.

2.       Turkey’s balanced political and economic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran during the past three decades have played a determining role in the economic and political development of Turkey. Turkey has a considerable share in Iran’s market which has helped in the economic blossom of this country. Even the international and unilateral sanctions of the US and Europe against Iran have also been to the benefit of Turkey. But there is no doubt that the removal of sanctions and under normal conditions, the economic and political interests of Turkey will be more and better provided. Thus, now that the wind of Iran’s policy of open gates has blown, Erdogan came to Tehran to guarantee his traditional share of Iran’s economy. The provision of energy and Iran’s gas exports to Turkey has been the top economic issue of this visit.

3.       Therefore, the deepening and development of Turkey’s relations with Iran after a period of tension and confrontation will safeguard the strategic economic and political objectives of this country. First, the cooperation and convergence of Turkey with Iran would help this country on its path of détente with its neighbors. In fact, Iran plays a key role in reducing Turkey’s tension with its neighbors to zero. Second, Ankara’s closeness to Tehran could end the failures of the unilateral policies of Turkey in the Middle East which have imposed heavy expenses on this country. Third, through closeness with Iran, Turkey could play a constructive role in managing the Syrian crisis and the Middle East. Iran and Turkey are the two sides necessary for the management of the regional order in the Middle East. Fourth, Salafi extremism and ethnic separatism threaten the national and religious identity of Turkey; Turkey’s cooperation with Iran to fight against this common threat, which threatens the stability and security of both countries, is strategically necessary. Fifth, there is bilateral economic independence between the two countries of Iran and Turkey. Thus, cooperation and closeness of the two countries would help the joint economic objectives and interests. On one hand, Iran could weaken and even neutralize international sanctions imposed against it with Turkey’s help. On the other hand, Turkey could benefit from Iran’s gas exports with a proper price while using Iran’s vast market. Turkey is Iran’s gate to Europe. Hence, good relations with Turkey would help the normalization of Iran’s relations with Europe. Iran is also the passageway of Turkey to the east and south-west of Asia, thus, Turkey can use the resources and markets of the Asian countries through it.

Therefore, the visit made by Turkey’s Prime Minister will have greater impacts beyond bilateral and even multilateral relations at the regional level which will manifest in defining these two countries’ relations in the world. But there is no doubt that the first and most important result of this diplomatic visit will be shown in the management of the Syrian crisis.