The Eurasianist Transformation of Turkish Foreign Policy after the Coup Attempt: An Evaluation in the Context of the SCO

Abstract

Abstract In the aftermath of the coup attempt, there have been debates about a Eurasianist axis shift in Turkish Foreign Policy. The development of relations with Russia and China in parallel with the tension in relations with Western actors has given rise to these debates. The fact that the links established with these two countries do not depend on a conditional cooperation and criticism from the West on the basis of authoritarianism, together with the background of political alliances formed after the change of government system, keeps the Eurasianist discourse at the forefront. Statements on rapprochement with the SCO and even membership are integrated into pragmatism in the context of tensions with the West, regional security risks and expectations, and economic/commercial needs. The government’s continued emphasis on NATO membership, the public’s view of the EU accession, and the continued dependence on trade and investments show that the Eurasianist outlook is a pragmatism linked to conjunctural needs.