Analysis of the Perspective of Turkey's Caucasian Policy in the "Turkish Century"

Abstract

On the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, President Erdoğan presented a new concept—the "Century of Türkiye"—intended to serve as a guide for the country's development in the coming decades. Alongside other directions, it outlines the country’s foreign policy goals and aspirations. The document highlights the potential use of both "soft" and "hard" power to achieve Türkiye's foreign policy objectives, as well as the steps to enhance the effectiveness of these strategies. Additionally, the concept details possible policies that official Ankara may adopt towards specific countries, regions, and foreign policy processes.

The aim of this study is to analyze the perspectives of the Republic of Türkiye's "Caucasian Policy" within the context of the "Century of Türkiye" program. The research is based on two key elements: first, the main doctrinal principles of Türkiye's foreign policy from the 1990s to 2023; and second, an examination of Türkiye's practical regional policy in the Caucasus during this period. For evaluation and analysis, events in the study are discussed following a chronological division:

• The main lines of Türkiye's policy in the Caucasus during the 1990s;
• Changes in Türkiye's foreign policy following the rise to power of the "Justice and Development Party" (AKP);
• Türkiye's Caucasian policy and its outcomes following the 2008 Russo-Georgian War;
• Theses on Türkiye's foreign policy after the establishment of the presidential governance system in Türkiye;

Foreign policy theses of the "Century of Türkiye" program.