© picture alliance / Anadolu | Cemal Yurttas
Turkey in the South Caucasus: Implications for the EU
Ankara sees cooperation with the European Union as crucial for stabilising the South Caucasus, developing infrastructure for the Middle Corridor, and resolving frozen conflicts. However, Turkey prefers to keep its distance rather than fully engaging with Brussels, given the EU’s perception of Ankara as a rival rather than a partner. This mindset excludes Turkey from EU policy discussions, preventing it from contributing its own assessments and priorities, and further deepens distrust and antagonism.