Karel Valansi'nin kaleminden...

Geopolitical earthquakes are redrawing trade routes across Eurasia. Russia’s war in Ukraine has awakened Central Asian countries, which have discovered their strength through cooperation to develop their economies and attain independence. Without the constant attention of Russia, this cooperation contributes to developing  the Middle Corridor , a key trade route linking China to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the South Caucasus. It is an alternative to traditional east-west trade routes that bypasses Russia and Iran. The Middle Corridor is a  regional initiative , not an external, imposed idea. It boosts regional cooperation, flexibility, economic growth, and diplomatic dialogue. While Russia and China try to maneuver according to new geopolitical developments,  Iran   is ignored   in these initiatives. The Middle Corridor creates a strategic role for Turkey as a central energy hub connecting Europe to additional suppliers. The European Union (EU)...

After a decade of strained relations between the two nations, Israeli President Isaac Herzog is paying an official visit to Turkey. This visit happens as part of a broad normalization effort by Turkey as the country moves away from diplomatic isolation and extends an olive branch to regional powers with whom it has been at odds. The Atlantic Council IN TURKEY asked experts to comment on the significance of the visit, each side’s expectations regarding the rapprochement, and repercussions on Eastern Mediterranean energy resources, as well as what this visit means for the regional power balance. Brenda Shaffer: The non-zero-sum option for Israel Gabrial Mitchell: What Israel really wants from Turkey Karel Valansi: Watch for the thaw in ‘frosty’ Israel-Turkey relations The non-zero-sum option for Israel Herzog’s visit is extremely significant. It is not the beginning of a process but actually symbolizes a process of improving of relations between Turkey and Israel that is already taking p...

Turkey has been working away at recalibrating its foreign policy by tracking down new allies and issuing conciliatory statements—and it’s a crucial part of the country’s bid to become a regional leader, energy hub, and economic powerhouse. But are Ankara’s steps toward recalibration big enough to really change the regional landscape? Last month, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal hosted his Egyptian counterpart in  Ankara for rapprochement talks focusing on regional issues. The latest talks follow a first-round visit to  Cairo  in May, where Turkey and Egypt hashed out bilateral concerns. It’s a remarkable moment, since these visits marked the first high-level political consultations between the two powers since the 2013 military coup in Egypt, an event that led to a rapid deterioration in Cairo’s relationship with Ankara. But the recalibration isn’t just with Egypt. For several months now, Ankara has taken steps to normalize regional relationships that had been f...

Türkiye’de yayınlanan Salom Gazetesi yazarı Karel Valansi ’nin, “Atlantic Council” adlı ABD merkezli düşünce kuruluşunun 27-28 Nisan tarihlerinde İstanbul’da gerçekleştirdiği zirve sırasında, İsrail Enerji Bakanlığı Genel Direktörü Shaul Meridor ve İsrail Enerji Özel Temsilcisi Ron Adam ile yaptığı söyleşi oldukça önemlidir. İsrail’in sahip olduğu doğal gaz kapasitesinin gerek bölge gerekse küresel bağlamda yaratacağı siyasal ve ekonomik etkiler üzerinde duruluyor. Elbette Kıbrıs ve Kıbrıs sorunu da, konu açısından oldukça kritik bir noktada bulunuyor.