The impact of the Turkish regional role in the Middle East after the October 7th attacks

Purpose
This paper analyzes Turkey's post-October 7 foreign policy through the lens of role theory, focusing on its responses to the Israel–Hamas conflict and its shifting relations with major regional actors.


Design/methodology/approach
The paper is applying “The Role Theory” to study the Turkish role in the Middle East after the October 7th attacks, through analyzing the role conceptions, role performance and role prescription in the Turkish foreign policy.


Findings
The paper reveals how Turkey's foreign policy is shaped by the interplay between its domestic identity, regional ambitions and the expectations placed on it by both Allies and adversaries. The analysis finds that Turkey's foreign policy remains dynamic, driven by the persistent negotiation of conflicting roles, which in turn impacts its ability to position itself as a key actor in the Middle East.


Originality/value
The study tries to explore the evolution of the Turkish–Israeli relations, highlighting the complexities of balancing historical tensions with economic and strategic cooperation.