Return to the old: in foreign policy, as well as in the economy...

The outcomes of the talks held on August 19 in Baku during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit are being carefully analyzed, especially given leaks from Russian (!) sources on several contentious issues, while Baku remains silent on them.

While nationalists were narrowing the maneuvering space of political Islam, the response to Turkey, which aimed to improve relations with Syria, from Damascus was: "Leave our lands, and stop supporting terrorist groups." It was known that this response did not please Ankara. Therefore, a few days ago, the national defense minister, Yaşar Güler, essentially closed the door by saying, "Let Syria make changes to its constitution and hold democratic elections, and then we can think about normalizing relations."

The message from the Israeli public broadcasting corporation Kan, which claimed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had prohibited their soldiers from staying in Azerbaijan and Georgia due to potential threats from Iran, caused confusion both in Israel and in the mentioned countries.

Recent events indicate a marked escalation in anti-Turkey rhetoric from the North. While Ankara's official position remains undeclared, analysts closely monitoring the unfolding situation are advised to interpret these events as part of a broader strategic realignment. Turkey, a cornerstone in the Western alliance's economic, military, and political architecture, has navigated a delicate path with Russia until mid-2023.