Turkish officials belied on Saturday the content of a New York Times article, regarding a complete turnabout in terms of their foreign policy.

The US daily claimed that Turkey had tried to create a Sunni Axis in the Near-East leaning on the Muslim Brotherhood. However, after Mohamed Morsi’s downfall in Egypt and it’s military defeat in Syria, Ankara is currently seeking to get closer to the Shia powers: Iraq and Iran.

As proof, the New York Times had watched Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu during his visit to Baghdad on 10 and 11 November. He wore dark colors in line with the Shia traditional rituals during the Ashura mourning (picture).

The Turkish press depicts the official denial with irony.

« Turkey, Its Allies Struggling, Tempers Ambitions to Lead Region », by Tim Arango, The New York Times, November 21st 2013.

Translation
Alizée Ville