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An American analysis of Turkish foreign relations revealed that Ankara realized that the Brotherhood’s return to power was over and that the group had become a thing of the past, so the time had come to shed the legacy of this group that had been allied with that since the Arab Spring for ideological purposes and to reestablish relations with Egypt.
Turkey seeks to reestablish relations with Egypt after years of hostility, in a move that analysts say is part of a broader strategic shift in the face of its increasing isolation. “It is possible to open a new page in relations with Egypt and the Gulf states,” Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for the Turkish presidency, said earlier this month. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşolu confirmed that diplomatic efforts are underway to amend relations.
According to an analytical report by the US agency VOA, Egypt and Turkey are traditional allies, but relations have entered a deep stalemate since the fall of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in 2013, when the two countries withdrew their ambassadors.
The report noted that Ankara’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood during the Arab Spring was critical for primarily ideological goals, to highlight its influence in the Middle East by strengthening Islamic solidarity.
Expressive
Pragmatism versus ideology
Analysts indicate that Erdogan is looking for a way to get this policy back on track. “It was a mistake to support the Muslim Brotherhood, but the (Turkish) government now realizes that the Muslim Brotherhood does not have the slightest chance of regaining power, so we cannot continue with this policy,” he said. Hossein Baji of the Institute for Foreign Policy. , a group of experts in Ankara.
Baggi added: “But how to get out of this misguided policy publicly is Erdogan’s problem … Turkey cannot officially say that we will renounce its support for the Muslim Brotherhood … Erdogan will not say officially. But perhaps it will slowly move.” from his official position of opposing the Egyptian president. “”.
According to the report, Turkey paid a heavy price to alienate Egypt, and in a step that weakened Ankara, Cairo last year signed an agreement with Turkey’s rival Greece for the development of the Mediterranean. Recent energy discoveries in the Mediterranean have sparked a series of territorial disputes between Greece and Turkey.
“Egypt is working against Turkey only because of Turkey’s wrong faith-based policy such as supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, and when Turkey abandons this policy, I am sure that Turkish-Egyptian relations will be better,” said the retired Turkish admiral. Jim Gordenes. a regional analyst.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Difficult change
Last Saturday, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that Ankara is about to realign itself with Cairo: “We have many common historical and cultural values with Egypt, and when they are used, we consider that there may be various developments in the los next days … and Turkey awaits a Mediterranean agreement. “With Cairo to weaken Egyptian relations with Greece.”
Cairo has so far refrained from commenting on the Ankara courtship. “In Turkey, there is a general opinion that Egyptians are always ready for what Turkey proposes. This is not true and to complete the tango it takes two, and Egypt is not interested in Egypt it wants to show the audience that it is not true . “Turkey has made a mistake, and Turkey is like a gentleman who wants to dance. But Egypt will realize that it is in its economic, political, technological and diplomatic interest. work with Turkey “.
The report indicated that there is awareness in Ankara of the need for patience. “Some intelligence officers (Turkish and Egyptian) spoke together … but we need real diplomatic talks at the table. That would be in everyone’s interest. We can have full diplomatic relations by March,” said Masoud Kasin, Turkish presidential adviser at Yeditepe University. from Istanbul.
Cassin added that recent efforts by Turkey to improve relations with Saudi Arabia, a close ally of Egypt, could also boost Egyptian rapprochement efforts.
Europe and Africa
Erdogan has recently taken initiatives with another key ally, France. In a Turkish presidential statement, after Erdogan spoke via video link last week with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, “Turkey and France can make important contributions to Europe’s security, stability and peace efforts to the Caucasus, Middle East and Africa “.
Not long ago, Turkish and French leaders exchanged insults, and Erdogan indicated at one point that Macron needed mental health treatment, prompting France to temporarily withdraw its ambassador.
In addition to personal hostility between bosses, there is growing rivalry in Africa.
France, along with Egypt, faced Turkey in the Libyan Civil War. Ankara’s military support to the Libyan Government of National Accord prevented its almost certain defeat by the Libyan National Army. But analysts suggest that Ankara can learn the importance of diplomacy.
“I don’t know how long you can count on the force, which is very expensive,” said international relations expert Soli Ozil of Kadir Has University in Istanbul, referring to Turkey’s involvement in military conflicts from Libya to Syria to Iraq. , which has greatly depleted.
