Erdogan lost in foreign policy maze of his own making
As talk of early elections grows louder, Erdogan needs to steer Turkey out of its international isolation to bolster his weakened position at home.
Turkey is facing political uncertainty with rising domestic tensions and a spiraling economy. Presidential elections are due to be held by June 2023, but it seems increasingly likely they will take place earlier.
Support for President Recep Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) is waning, according to multiple opinion polls. The situation leaves Ankara facing difficult choices in its international affairs.
As a populist politician Erdogan has tried to satisfy his Islamist and nationalist support base with an angry finger-wagging approach to foreign policy. However, this short-sighted tactic has left Ankara increasingly isolated internationally. Turkey has more rivals and detractors in the world than friends and partners today, facing US and European sanctions and being internationally greylisted for “terrorist financing, money laundering and institutional corruption.”
Meanwhile, significant anti-Turkish coalitions have formed of states that were once allies of Turkey.
