Ali Alipour

This article aims to elaborate on Turkey’s stance towards the main developments in the South Caucasus after the rise of the AK Party in 2002. The main focus of this article is to delineate the impact of Turkey’s new foreign policy on the country’s approach towards regional developments. Turkey’s ambition to become a key energy hub influences its sensitive and strategic conception of this energy-rich region. Turkey’s “zero problems with neighbors” policy has proven to be an underlying principle, giving shape to Turkey’s attempts to support regional pluralism and contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the region through economic interdependence. The aim of Turkey is to achieve its political goal of enjoying a peaceful neighboring region, and its ultimate vision of becoming a key energy hub. However, the “zero problems” ideal has faced challenges, which are underlined as the main factors currently influencing Turkey’s policies and behavior in the region.