TÜRKİYE'S ROLE IN WESTERN BALKANS SECURITY COOPERATION

Abstract

This article seeks to provide a descriptive analysis of Türkiye’s role in security cooperation in the Western Balkans and the criticisms of Türkiye’s position on this cooperation. In order to achieve this, the article identifies active security cooperation mechanisms in the Western Balkans, analyses Türkiye’s activities in these mechanisms and the security dimension of Türkiye’s bilateral relations with the countries in the region. Furthermore, criticisms of Türkiye’s attitude towards regional security cooperation efforts after 2016 have been put forward and these criticisms have been discussed. As a result, it is understood that Türkiye plays an active role in regional security cooperation, contributes to the security cooperation of the region, and has the potential to support the capacity building of Western Balkan countries in specific areas such as counterterrorism.