- Turkey's foreign policy was shaped by two main factors: its regional identity due to its geographical location, and its identity as a secular state with a Muslim population. - After the fall of the Soviet Union, Turkey saw new opportunities and challenges that changed its foreign policy landscape. It strengthened ties with Western countries while also facing challenges related to Kurdish issues. - Under Turgut Ozal in the 1990s, Turkey entered a new era of close integration with the US as a strategic partner, supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, relations entered a period of uncertainty depending on developments in the volatile Middle East region.