Taking Advantage of Ankara’s Resurgence
WASHINGTON — Even more than NATO’s ongoing military operations, the so-called Arab Awakenings and eurozone crisis have reshaped its strategic operating environment and the relative capabilities of its various members. But while most European member states are grappling with austerity measures and defense cuts, one actor has increased its involvement and commitment: Turkey. The symbolism of NATO’s first Muslim-majority nation is crucial in and of itself. In many regions, Turkish soldiers face considerably less hostility and opposition than forces from other countries. Turkish businesses, hospitals, and schools dot the Afghan landscape and are only set to grow through more public-private partnerships. And the largely untapped potential of Turkish private enterprise has yet to be leveraged on the scale of Ankara’s impressive campaign in Somalia.
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