The Turkish authorities plan to introduce cardinal changes to its national security policy, excluding 4 countries from the list of top threats, with Russia among the excluded countries, RIA Novosti reports.
Last February, the Prime Minister of Turkey declared the government's intention to introduce some changes to the ‘Red Book’, the document defining national security politics. This document poses Islamic radicalism and separatism as the main domestic threats, with international terrorism being the main exterior threat.
The new national security program is the greatest turn in Turkish Foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. It stipulates partnership and cooperation with the Russian Federation in the fields of trade, energy and the economy, as well as in ensuring security in the Caucasus region. Russia was previously considered to be a rival in these spheres.
The new program, developed by civil as well as military officials for the first time, is also less strict regarding the activities of Muslim fundamentalism.
