Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses and analyses the major developments influencing Turkish foreign policy and security interests. It examines the question of 'whether Turkey's potential membership reinforces the European Union's (EU's) global actorness'. The book also discusses Turkish-American relations and analyses the factors that have shaped the continuities and changes in bilateral relations. It argues that over the last decade the Iraqi issue has gained importance in Turkey's foreign relations with the 'two Wests'. The book explains the Turkey's rapprochement with Iran and Syria, which gained momentum after the Iraq war. It focuses on the differences among the main powers – namely USA, Russia, China, India and the EU – in the Eurasian security realm since the beginning of Operation Endeavour and examines how the dynamic conditions of today's Eurasia affect foreign policy-making capacity.