Turkey’s “Zero Problems” Problem
Until the onset of the Arab Spring, Turkey's “zero problems with neighbors” policy meant zero problems with the established autocratic regimes of the Middle East. But, in an increasingly unpredictable environment, Turkey will have to redefine what it means to be a good neighbor.
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ISTANBUL – It was good while it lasted. Designed by Turkey’s newly elected government in 2002, the country’s “zero problems with neighbors” policy helped it to climb into the league of influential regional powers. The policy’s goal – to build strong economic, political, and social ties with the country’s immediate neighbors while decreasing its dependency on the United States – seemed to be within sight. But the Arab Spring exposed the policy’s vulnerabilities, and Turkey must now seek a new guiding principle for regional engagement.