World

Turkiye steps up dual-track strategy with its neighbors

Since 2011, Turkiye’s relations with neighboring Syria and Iraq have been strained. However, 2024 was a milestone in its ties with both countries. Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria collapsed toward the end of that year, ushering in a new era in Turkish-Syrian relations. Earlier in the year, a new chapter also opened in relations between Turkiye and Iraq. In 2024, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a historic visit to Iraq, his first since 2011, accompanied by a large entourage. Erdogan is