By Matthew Mai
On May 14, Turkish voters will head to the ballot box to elect their next president.
At a moment of global upheaval, Turkey's unique geopolitical position allows it to play an outsized role in international politics. As a result, Turkey is frequently castigated for taking stances that contravene Western preferences.
Critics charge that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's foreign policy is a direct outgrowth of his illiberal posture at home rather than shrewd geopolitics. But this interpretation is wrong: Turkey's robust economic ties with Russia and regional security concerns make it highly unlikely another leader will seek closer alignment with the West.
This piece was originally published in Business Insider on May 12, 2023. Read more HERE.