Erdogan rethinks sectarian politics
Ankara is showing signs of moving away from sectarian leanings and perhaps back to its historic neutral stance in the region.
Following President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to Iran, speculation is rife about a new regional policy Ankara is trying to develop for the Middle East. This is said to be predicated on a return to Turkey’s former role as a potential mediator in regional crises, which it held prior to the Arab Spring.
There are those who argue that Ankara wants to shed the appearance of being a member of a regional Sunni alliance, and to be a facilitator instead for peace between Sunnis and Shiites in a turbulent part of the world marked by an increase in sectarian conflicts. It is noteworthy that Erdogan has been trying recently to actively distance himself from any suggestion that he harbors Sunni sympathies against Shiites.
