EGF Turkey File, March — Mid April 2015

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics
1 March 2015 — 16 April 2015
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• President Erdogan claims Iran is attempting to divide and conquer the Middle East, but tempers his criticisms following a visit to Tehran.
• Turkish journalist Emre Kizilkaya notes the aftereffects of the Gezi Park protests and their resulting impact on the opposition"s electoral processes.
• A Cold War relic reappears in a terrorist attack by a far left group, though the lack of support for the group"s actions indicate maturing Turkish political attitudes.
• The geostrategic implications of the Turkish Stream Pipeline expand as two EU-member states sign on and Turkish energy importers seek to lower rising Russian gas prices.