Geography is the first principle that cannot be changed in international relations, and Turkey, Iraq and Iran remain central to each other’s strategic calculations in the region they share, with the nature of their relationship continuing to affect regional balances.

Ankara hosted two important foreign guests on consecutive days last week.

As tension escalates between Iran and Greece, two of Turkey’s neighbors with whom it is at odds on several issues, Ankara is navigating between Scylla and Charybdis — the two maritime hazards in Greek mythology that both brought disaster.