Claiming to be the continuation of the Democratic Party (DP), the Justice Party, when it came to power in the 1965 elections, abandoned the extreme Americanist attitude of the DP, which ignored the Middle East, and started to pursue a policy of balance, in good relations with Arab countries, but without offending the USA and Israel. The Justice Party government, which strives to make Turkey a country in warm relations with the Arab/Islamic world, with which we have religious, historical and cultural ties, and on international platforms, the Justice Party government, in the government program, especially the Middle East and Morocco, Africa and it stated that it would follow a multi-faceted foreign policy with Asian countries.
On the one hand, the Justice Party, which aimed to establish relations in order to develop political, economic and cultural relations in order to erase the negative image of Turkey in the Middle East geography, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of relations with the West. This tactic, multi-faceted and balance policy was actually the policy of the Republic of Turkey since the beginning. It is undeniable that Turkish foreign policy, which has problems with Islamic countries from time to time, has problems with the USA and the West from time to time, but still follows a policy of balance due to its geopolitical position.
During this period, Iraqi Prime Minister Adnan al-Paçacı's visit to Turkey and his emphasis on the just cause of the Turkish community in Cyprus were the first fruit of our indifference to this geography. Also in this period, the visit of Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Haluk Bayülken to Egypt was improving the relations between the two countries. Again, mutual visits with Saudi Arabia and Tunisia were now showing the point reached in rapprochement with the Arab/Islamic world.
In the meantime, it was a matter of curiosity whether Turkey would attend the meeting organized by the "World Islamic Union". In an environment where the effects of the 1960 coup continued, it was decided that Turkey should attend this meeting, which was full of questions such as how Turkey's participation in this meeting would be welcomed inside, and how would the USA and the Western world react to it. Upon the rumor that Turkey would cut off relations with Israel at the meeting, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a meeting and made a statement that "this meeting is not a political organization". Turkey, as always, was observing the policy of balance and was expressing its determination to continue its relations with both Arab countries and Israel. Turkey's ultimate goal at this meeting was to develop economic and commercial cooperation and to get the support of the Arab world on Cyprus.
The 1967 Arab-Israeli war coincided with a process in which Turkey had to visibly show its side. On the one hand, developing relations with Arab countries, on the other hand, does not want to break ties with Israel.
Turkey took the following decisions on this issue:
1- To develop multidimensional relations with Arab countries,
2- To remain neutral in the disputes between Arabs,
3- Not to participate in pacts and regional agreements that will divide the Arabs.
Turkey decided not to let its bases be used against Arabs in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Statements were made in support of the Arabs. It also supported these countries in humanitarian aid. Again, in the negotiations at the UN, Turkey took its stance on the side of the Arabs.
Upon the burning of Masjid al-Aqsa, which was under Israeli occupation, on August 21, 1969, Islamic countries decided to convene the Organization of the Islamic Conference in response to this. Turkey was also invited to this meeting. President Cevdet Sunay announced that Turkey would not attend such a meeting because it is a secular country. However, Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel stated that this meeting was not a religious one but a political one, and that attending such a meeting was not contrary to the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey.
The usual policy of balance was evident here as well. While trying to get closer to the Arab world on the one hand, they were being careful not to offend Israel, on the other hand.
As a result, Turkey participated in the Islamic Summit held in Rabat. Turkey, represented by Foreign Minister Çağlayangil, refused to cut ties with Israel here. This attitude caused criticism of Arab countries. For this reason, Turkey participated in the meeting in March 1970 at a lower level.
However, although Turkey pursued a policy of balance, the neglected relations with the Arab world for many years had been brought to a certain level. The result of this was that at the Lusaka meeting of the Non-Aligned, the Arab countries took a side with Turkey on the Cyprus issue.
As a result, in this period, it is seen that Turkey both established good relations with the Arabs and tried not to offend the USA and Israel. The balance policy in Turkish foreign policy continues today. Although the governments change, the mentality is always the same.