Acta Universitatis Danubius. Relationes Internationales, Vol 11, No 1 (2018)

Abstract

Turkey, a NATO member country, is repositioned on the international political scene in a more than exciting manner. USA ally within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, it opens up new horizons from the perspective of international relations with non-allied countries.

The approach of this theme aims to outline the major role that Turkey is to play on the scene of NATO's interests in South Eastern Europe, especially from the perspective of close relations with the USA historical rival, namely Russia.

After NATO's failure to co-opt Ukraine as a country aspiring to join the organization and Russia's prompt response by annexing Crimea, the policies of both sides underwent major changes in the work strategy for the future action plan.

Our perspective outlines the strengthening of Russia-Turkey axis which, at this moment, by receiving a new presidential mandate by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, raises serious issues regarding the cooperation within the alliance and the bilateral relationship between Turkey and the United States of America. On one hand, we notice Russia's interest in counterbalancing the USA expansion plan in South Eastern Europe and, on the other hand, it is Turkey's interest in the historical dispute over the Kurds.

         Once again, in this engagement on the international political scene regarding the security of some regions, the established powers reconfigure strategies and develop partnerships, we would say under atypical conditions, strategies and partnerships which benefit from the support of some states that we dare call stake-holder states. At this moment, Turkey is in this situation, a situation that is suited and finds its sustainability as a result of the new constitutional changes and obviously, in Recep Tayyp Erdogan's new mandate.