Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, is visiting Tehran, not only to boost bilateral relations, but also to shape a new power bloc in the region.

Both Turkey and Iran agree that stronger ties will benefit the region and the Islamic world at large.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, told Erdogan that unity is the best way to turn threats into opportunities.

Is the current Turkish-Iranian rapprochement good for the region? Can these non-Arab countries help solve or exacerbate the problems of their Arab neighbours?  

Are we witnessing a large geopolitical shift in the Middle East? Has Ankara given up on EU membership? Or is it proving to Europe that it can truly be a bridge between the East and West?

Inside Story is joined by guests Dogu Ergil, professor of political science at Ankara University, Sadegh Zibakalam, a professor of political science at Tehran University, and David Cuthell, the executive director of the Institute of Turkish studies in Washington DC and visiting adjunct professor at the Middle East Institute at Columbia University.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Wednesday, October 28, 2009.