Regional integration of ...
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The presence of external actors such as the United States, Russia, and NATO further limits the potential for full strategic integration. The key point, however, is that these rivalries have not reached a level that halts functional cooperation; both countries have worked to manage competition while sustaining collaboration. In integration theory, this pattern is referred to as “integration amid competition,” a situation observed in many global regions and one that can lead to relative stability.
Despite these limitations, the recent visit of the Turkish foreign minister to Iran signals a clear willingness by both states to prioritize cooperation as a more logical and cost-effective path than confrontation. Increased coordination on issues such as Syria, Gaza, the South Caucasus, and even the Russia-Ukraine crisis indicates that Tehran and Ankara are moving toward the establishment of a “structured dialogue framework,” which, if institutionalized, could lay the foundations for sustained regional integration.
Overall, the current outlook suggests that Iran and Turkey are not yet on the path to a full strategic alliance but are engaged in a rational, gradual process of functional integration, driven by security imperatives, economic opportunities, and the need for effective regional crisis management. If these cooperative mechanisms become institutionalized and evolve into stable and organized arrangements, the bilateral relationship is likely to enter a more stable, lower-tension phase in the coming years, transitioning from costly competition to mutually beneficial partnership.