Abstract:

It is claimed that the "Policy for Reaching the Hot Seas" has been formulated and testamentized to future rulers by Peter the Great (1672-1725) to turn Russia into a global power. Although the allegation in question was discussed, the above-mentioned policy has become an almost permanent symbol of Russian Foreign Policy. Russia's desire to expand to the south within the scope of the "Policy for Reaching the Hot Seas" has resulted in constant competition against the Ottoman Empire. For this reason, the Ottoman Empire had to clash with Russia both in Eastern Europe and in the Caucasus. It is noteworthy that Russia used three basic strategies in its expansion towards the south in this period. These are respectively Panslavism, Pan-Orthodoxy put into practice by being the patroness of the Orthodox under Ottoman rule, and also collaboration with some ethnic elements in the country. The main goal of all three strategies was to weaken the political integrity and national resistance of the Ottoman Empire. As a part of this attrition policy, since the beginning of the 19th century, Russia started to deal with some ethnic elements such as Armenians and Kurds within the Ottoman Empire. This interest had resulted in serious consequences both in the Caucasus region and in the Ottoman geography. Russia's relationship with Kurdish groups has been continuing today, albeit in different dimensions. Therefore, this relationship between the parties is considered to be a factor that the must be taken into account in the formulation of regional policies. For this reason, in this study, the answers to questions such as what kind of outcomes Russia's policy towards Kurds may have resulted in the Middle East and how this may have reflections on regional relations will be sought.

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