NATO has decided to open its first liaison office in the Middle East in Jordan, reflecting the alliance’s strategy to increase its influence in the region. Although the decision was discussed during the NATO Summit in 2023, it is significant when considering the broader regional context.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed openness last July to talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad, but not if withdrawing Turkish troops from Syrian territory was a condition.

Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning defense cooperation with Turkiye and China over the past few years has been garnering significant attention, especially following the recent visits to both countries by Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.

Once again, Turkish-Syrian reconciliation is on the agenda, this time with Iraq stepping forward to offer mediation.

In the past two decades Turkiye has pursued an increasingly proactive and interventionist foreign policy in line with the geopolitical transformations and structural challenges of regional conflicts.