The year 2021 opened its doors in soft diplomatic language between Turkey and the European Union, after the year 2020 ended its last days with Brussels imposing sanctions on Ankara.

Because of its oil and gas exploration in disputed areas with Athens in the eastern Mediterranean.

The conciliatory tone in statements of Turkish officials regarding resolving the crisis with Greece and the European Union was noticeable at the beginning of the new year.

To what extent does it reflect a shift in Turkish foreign policy following a year of tensions related to Turkey's rough foreign policy?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his hope that the upcoming exploratory meetings with Greece, on the crisis in the eastern Mediterranean, will be the gateway to a new era.

He said that the eastern Mediterranean basin should be transformed into a zone of cooperation between all.

With regard to relations with the European Union, Erdogan said that Turkey is ready to restore relations with the European Union on track according to a long-term vision.

Although the tensions between the parties are not over yet;

However, the conciliatory tone of Turkey will lead - according to observers - to a common formula to resolve their differences.

In this context, Ankara realizes that any correction of its relations with the European Union passes through the French gate, and the Turkish desire was embodied by the announcement by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşolu a few days ago that his country is working with France to lay down a roadmap for the normalization of bilateral relations, indicating that progress has been made in this way.

Turkey is aware of the importance of France in the European bloc and is seeking to normalize relations with it (European - Archive)

Common formula

In this context, the Turkish writer and researcher in international relations, Taha Odehoglu, recalls that Ankara adopted a conciliatory tone with the European Union to find a common formula to solve the thorny files, after it had imposed itself as a force in the eastern Mediterranean.

He describes the Turkish efforts as coming in the context of calming the anger of the Union before the upcoming European summit in March, which is supposed to discuss imposing harsher sanctions on Turkey, knowing that it has a last chance to avoid sanctions.

Davutoglu said to Al-Jazeera Net, "The European Union will take up the conciliatory rhetoric of Turkey in order to develop a solution that satisfies both parties."

The Turkish writer adds, "The regional changes represented by the arrival of a new American administration headed by President-elect Joe Biden to the White House have also prompted Turkey and many countries to review their policies towards many thorny issues in the region."

The crossing of refugees to Europe is one of the hot issues between Turkey and Europe (Al-Jazeera)

last chance

While the leader of the ruling Turkish Justice and Development Party, Rasul Tosson, affirms that his country adheres to international law and the concluded agreements, and has not used the language of tension with Greece and other parties in any of the thorny files.

Tosson says to Al Jazeera Net, "When German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked for dialogue between Turkey and Greece, we pulled the exploration ship to the port of Antalya, but Athens took the opportunity and initiated a provocative agreement with Egypt."

The Turkish leader points out that his country has always offered reconciliation and peace.

"But the Greek side rejects it, and Ankara is currently giving Greece a new, and perhaps last, opportunity to reconcile and sit at the dialogue table, otherwise it will enter into a battle that it will lose."

It is noteworthy that Turkey has known multiple crises with Europe, from the tensions in the eastern Mediterranean that the conflict with Greece almost threatens a war between two NATO allies, to the continuous tension with France, to the problems that the intervention in Libya and Syria has brought about Turkey with some European countries, as well as The crisis triggered by the insulting cartoons of the Holy Prophet, the law of the Armenian extermination and the conversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum into a mosque.

Biden assuming power in Washington requires Ankara to search for a new relationship with the European neighborhood (Reuters)

Soft power

For his part, the researcher on Turkish affairs, Saeed al-Hajj, prefers Turkey to adopt soft and diplomatic power more than hard power - in the current and future period - with the European Union and Greece, as it wants to reap the fruits of the roles it played in the files of the eastern Mediterranean, Libya and the East Mediterranean.

Hajj said to Al-Jazeera Net, "Ankara needs today more than ever to achieve the slogan of increasing friends and reducing opponents, especially in a thorny file related to its national security and strategic interests such as the Eastern Mediterranean."

He added, "It is Turkey's responsibility to win a number of European countries to its side to enhance its credibility, ease European alignment with Greece and reduce undue pressure on Turkey, in a way that could prepare the ground for a dialogue - in which Greece is genuinely involved this time - that precedes practical solutions steps from During international arbitration. "

The researcher Al-Hajj notes that Turkey wants to focus on its priority internal agendas, from fighting the Corona pandemic to the economic file to judicial and legal reforms, which are paths that most need calming foreign policy tracks and relieving pressure on Ankara.

He explains that Ankara's preparations include improving relations with the European Union and the United States;

Desiring to respond to the new global change represented by the election of Biden as President of the United States of America, in order to reduce the chances of a clash with the new administration.

Al-Hajj believes that Turkey, in its new reconciliatory language, is investing in the changes related to the European Union, especially after the British Brexit, which was added to other European crises, such as the euro crises, debt, differences between East and West countries and the Corona pandemic, which are variables that reduce Brussels' drive towards escalation with Ankara.