Middle East Eye: Türkiye plays important role in ensuring security in Persian Gulf

Türkiye plays an important role in maintaining security in the Persian Gulf, Report informs, citing an article published by the Middle East Eye.

The article’s author Ali Bakir, a research assistant professor at Ibn Khaldun Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, noted that “when the Justice and Development Party (AKP) ascended to power in Türkiye in 2002, it launched a new, multi-dimensional and self-confident foreign policy, which has elevated the country’s status, role and influence, both regionally and internationally.”

“During the past decade, Türkiye’s security-oriented role in the Gulf has been largely shaped by critical internal, regional and international dynamics. Regional insecurity, the GCC’s (Gulf Cooperation Council) structural vulnerabilities and reliance on outside protection, and the reduction in Washington’s security commitments to the Gulf all contributed to Ankara’s increasing security role in the region,” reads the article.

The author noted that the manifestation of Türkiye’s aspiration to play a greater security role in the Gulf region was manifested in the creation of its first Middle Eastern military base, located in Qatar. “During the 2017 Gulf crisis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed that he proposed to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman the establishment of a Turkish military base on Saudi soil at least two years before the crisis. Ankara links the security, stability and prosperity of the Gulf region to that of Türkiye.”

The author also emphasized Iran's position regarding Türkiye's strengthening role in the Persian Gulf: “Regarding Iran, while the Gulf crisis pushed Ankara closer to Tehran with the goal of helping Qatar to overcome the blockade, the Iranians were not pleased that Türkiye was developing a bigger economic and security role in the Gulf. During the early days of the blockade, Iranian authorities obstructed the passage of Turkish trucks carrying food and goods to Qatar, citing bureaucratic procedures.

Likewise, the Iranians were not happy with Türkiye’s direct military presence in the Gulf via Qatar, expressing concerns over the possible permanent deployment of Turkish jets in Doha.”

Extra-regional actors, such as China, Russia and even India, could also pose a challenge to Türkiye’s upgraded security role in the Gulf in future. Ali Bakir suggests Türkiye must boost its economic power, and significantly increase its business interactions with Gulf countries in order to compete with extra-regional actors and facilitate a possible enhanced security role for itself in the future.