Turkey in Central Asia
Actors, Interests, Policy Fields
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Turkey tried to use pan-Turkish ideas and a strong sense of mission to make a name for itself as the big brother of the Central Asian states. This concept failed. Since then, Ankara has taken a pragmatic course and pursued its economic and political interests in a targeted manner. Turkey benefits from the fact that, unlike Russia and China, it is not perceived as a threat in Central Asian societies, where repression of the Crimean Tatars and the Uyghurs is closely followed. Ankara’s position in Central Asia is also strengthened by the increased efficiency of the Turkish economy, for example, in the field of armaments technology.
(Osteuropa 8-10/2024, pp. 117–131)