U.S. and Western Europe are joined at the top of the global pyramid by aspiring emerging powers led by China and India seeking to redefine existing power balances and institutional settings.

There are two countries that enjoy the deepening chaos of the Middle East. One is Russia, which has increased its influence by filling the gaps left by the U.S. after 2015. It has achieved regional power that affects the balances with a relatively limited military presence.

Everyone seems to agree that Turkey-U.S. relations are going through a rough patch. Throughout history, there had been ups and downs in bilateral relations. However, the problems between Ankara and Washington at a time of global uncertainty and deepening regional conflicts are indicative of a different kind of structural crisis.

We need to see that a big, malevolent game is being played. Of course, regional countries' faulty strategies, steps to save the day and especially elites' efforts to gain ground in domestic politics catalyze foreign powers' manipulations and interventions. However, it is indisputable that the region is currently facing a new policy of disintegration plotted by foreign powers.

The growing rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which recently caused Lebanese PM Hariri to resign, will soon impact others in the region, too

The West does not seem to be bothered much about the rising tide of micro-nationalism in the Middle East, which is categorically perceived as an endemic conflict zone

Trump's new strategy on Iran and the nuclear deal is likely to also have a huge impact on U.S. allies in the region

The Trump administration, which is still completing its first year, has so far not produced any result other than consolidating Moscow in the Middle East.

The neo-medievalism in regional geo-politics enforces passing alliances and unlikely groupings in several areas in the Middle East

The Kurdish nationalists who believe that the time is right for a referendum seem unable to keep their ambitions under control

In terms of safeguarding regional stability, the key issue is protecting the territorial integrity of even the most fragile states in the Middle East through collaborative efforts

Turkey, as the only regional power with a strong state and democracy, is being lured into the Gulf crisis, but it is working to avoid the trap

With the first anniversary of last summer's coup attempt – one of the most significant events in the history of Turkey's multi-party democracy – around the corner, all parties must act with due care and vigilance. Both security forces and protesters need to act responsibly

Turkey's stabilizing role as a functioning democracy and strong market economy will be in higher demand in the coming months

Gulf nations must realize the danger of their current policies in the region and do something about it

The current crisis is a prelude to Qatar's disciplining, the deeper polarization between Iran and the Gulf and the undermining of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas

Under the circumstances, it was no surprise that the NATO summit was not a complete disaster and instead an opportunity for the U.S. and the European Union to start talking about key issues.