At the beginning of February, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan concluded a crucial diplomatic tour to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The trip reflects a new regional geopolitical landscape and signals new alliances.
The West Asia region is experiencing a breach of trust, says Dr. Eray Güçlüer, president of the Eurasian Center for Strategic Studies (ASAM).
“After Israel attacked Qatar, the countries of the region lost confidence in the United States and distanced themselves from this power. They began to look for alternatives in security matters.”
In addition, the break between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates occurred, as part of emerging regional coalitions, another game changer according to Dr. Mehmet Yalçın Yılmaz from the Istanbul University.
“An alliance was built between Israel, the United States, the UAE, and India regarding energy, trade, and innovation. The aim was to establish a new axis to weaken the triangle of China, Russia, and Iran. Now, a new regional response is being sought against it, as part of the quest for autonomy.”
This is how experts explain Turkish President Erdoğan’s visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, following a history of tensions. Energy, investment, and defense cooperation agreements were signed in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
“Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in co-producing the fighter jet. The Altay tank and Gökbey helicopter projects are also on the agenda. They are even interested in purchasing a warship. Defense cooperation appears to be progressing significantly, and it should be emphasized that this is happening despite the United States”, says Güçlüer.
President Erdoğan continued his trip to Cairo, Egypt, a country with which diplomatic relations had been frozen for years. Today, the situation is different, emphasizes YIlmaz.
“Türkiye expects to cooperate in the Eastern Mediterranean to achieve a fair division of hydrocarbon reserves there. In turn, Türkiye will support Egypt with its technological needs, in addition to the increased bilateral trade already underway, with the Turkish textile sector relocating to Egypt”.
During this visit, several agreements were also signed, including the sale of a Turkish air defense system to Egypt and the establishment of an ammunition factory in that country. Part of regional cooperation according to Yılmaz:
“President Erdoğan’s visit to Riyadh and Cairo signifies both regional cooperation and addressing potential risks in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf. The situation in Somaliland, where Israel is seeking to create chaos, was also discussed.”
In a world where the United Nations is losing effectiveness in resolving crises and the United States is in decline, regional actors are seeking to establish new alliances. Collective security and strategy are increasingly at the forefront.
