ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the Turkish reaction to the uprising against the Mubarak regime as a cooperative opportunity. The empirical investigation focuses on the formation of the Turkish position against the Mubarak regime, analysing contributing factors in the timing and the substance of Turkish policy, and finds that the main factors influential in the Turkish decision-making process were Turkey’s substantial interests in Egypt, including its citizens in the conflict zone, and the US position regarding the Mubarak regime. In terms of cooperation with the EU, the chapter finds that the EU High Representative and the Turkish Foreign Minister held informal talks during the course of the Egyptian uprising, which suggests that there was an exchange of views between Turkey and the EU. Moreover, another essential finding is that the Turkish government renewed its proposal for closer foreign policy cooperation with the EU at the start of the uprising, especially when the Turkish decision makers thought that the instability was likely to spread after the fall of Mubarak.
