Erdogan pushes tough foreign policy despite economic pain

ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s increasingly assertive foreign policy is rankling Western allies and scaring away investors — but few analysts expect him to slow down.
Critics accuse Erdogan of whipping up patriotism in a bid to shore up support after bitter municipal election losses last year saw his rivals win in Ankara and Istanbul.
The government counters that Turkey is defending its interests in a volatile region against unfriendly nations.