The Turkish Foreign Policy Dimensions in Africa in AKP Era Dr. Lotfi Sour

Abstract

As part of on-going multidimensional foreign policy changes in recent years there hasbeen since 1998 a revival in Turkey‟s relations with Africa. Turkey has tried to increasethe volume of its diplomatic, political, economic and cultural interactions with Africancountries. This paper examines the reasons behind the return of Turkish interest to theAfrican circle and its importance to Turkey's position and future status. On the other hand,Turkey's openness to Africa is clearly evident, driven by two twin objectives: first,Turkey's urgent need to diversify its economic relations in a new global political economy.The second is to achieve a distinct regional status that inevitably passes through theattainment of influence in neighboring regional circles. Furthermore, relations betweenTurkey and Africa are still new and the future of relations depends to a large extent onTurkish domestic political developments as well as attention from the African side in theface of intense international competition for influence on the African continent.