The world's eyes have been fixed on Nagorno-Karabakh, the rise of Islamophobia in Europe and the United States elections. As usual, all three battles have been fought with references to Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Although recent airstrikes against Faylaq al-Sham fighters in Syria's Idlib province may have been interpreted as a Russian attempt to counterbalance Ankara, the truth is Russian President Vladimir Putin appreciates his need to work with Erdoğan in Syria and the Caucasus alike. The conflict in the Caucasus, energy reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean and Islamophobia in Europe all shape Ankara's foreign policy agenda. Likewise, the Eastern Mediterranean cannot emerge as a sea of peace and sharing unless Turkey's interests are recognized.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 04, 2020 21:00 UTC