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Abstract

The attitude of Turkey, one of the closest allies of the United States in the Middle East, has been highly ambiguous throughout the Iraqi crisis. Obviously, Ankara does not have enough resources to oppose Washington's decisions. Its policy, however, is determined by a set of factors and constraints, among them the legacy of the Ottoman Empire and the fear of emergence of a viable Kurdish entity. Moreover, some sections among the military and civil establishment are quite reluctant towards the United States, which are accused to aim at the destruction of the 'nation-states'. The declaration of general Tuncer Kilinç, secretary general of the powerful National Security Council, underlining the necessity of a radical switch in the Turkish foreign policy and a strategic alliance with Russia and Iran against the West, is a significant proof of internal tensions inside the Turkish establishment. Ultimately, Ankara will be obliged to accept some kind of co-operation with the U.S. during the Iraqi crisis. It seems however also be convinced that the establishment of a pro-American administration in Iraq will depreciate its 'strategic value' in the Middle East.

Hamit Bozarslan is a Research Fellow at the Institute on Islam and Islamic Societies, within the School of High Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS, Paris).
(This article is published in French only. Original title: 'La Turquie: puissance régionale et forteresse assiégée?'.