Loqman Radpey
Jerusalem Post, Jan. 19, 2025
“Turkey’s partnership with Qatar in financing Islamic movements reveals a coordinated strategy to dominant Sunni Muslim communities globally, especially after the weakening of Iran’s “axis of resistance.””
Turkey’s bold foreign policy moves in recent years reflect a determined effort to redefine its regional and global role. From its military interventions in Syria to its growing engagement with BRICS [the association of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and four additional countries], Ankara’s actions reveal a broader strategy.
Turkey’s ambitions challenge the international order.
Its involvement in Syria underscores an increasingly interventionist approach to the Middle East. By actively supporting jihadist and terrorist groups, Ankara has positioned itself as a key player in the Sunni-Shiite power struggle. This strategy aligns with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s vision of a neo-Ottoman sphere of influence, where Turkey assumes a leadership role in the Sunni Muslim world. Unlike traditional statecraft, Turkey’s geopolitical imagination prioritizes intervention and influence. This is not solely about immediate security concerns; it is about shaping the regional order to reflect Turkey’s historical and ideological ambitions.
Turkey’s actions in Syria and Iraq also signal a deeper shift away from its Western alliances. Erdogan’s government has cultivated closer ties with Russia, challenging NATO’s cohesion and trans-Atlantic interests, exemplified by acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air defense system – a move that alienated NATO allies and raised security concerns about espionage risks to US bases in Turkey. ...SOURCE