Turkish Foreign Policy Towards Macedonia after the Cold War

Abstract

The provided paper describes main features of the Turkish foreign policy towards Macedonia after the Cold War. The strategic character of the bilateral Turkish‑Macedonian partnership has been underlined. This partnership has its roots in the pragmatic tendency of the Turkish foreign policy to strengthen its influence and provide stability in the Balkan Peninsula. It is also a part of the broader context of the Turkey’s foreign policy which is determined by global factors and centuries‑lasting history of bilateral relations. A particular dynamism of the Turkey’s foreign policy under Justice and Development Party’s rule has been underlined in this paper. It has been clarified that implementation of the “strategic depth” conception – that forms a normative base for Turkey’s foreign activities under prime minister R.T. Erdoğan’s rule – has largely contributed to the deepening of bilateral relations.

Keywords

• Turkey
• Macedonia
• foreign policy
• partnership
• strategic depth