Saudi-Iranian crisis complicates Ankara’s regional plans
Islamists and secularists alike want Turkey to stay out of the Iranian-Saudi conflict.
Rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have put Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on the spot again, providing a fresh example of how its Islamist/Sunni-driven “strategic plans” for the Middle East can be undermined by unforeseen developments.
Pressure began building after the Saudis beheaded 47 prisoners, including popular Shiite cleric and critic Nimr al-Nimr, on Jan. 2. This latest, and to date most dangerous, crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran began only days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Riyadh for talks with King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud aimed at increasing cooperation on regional issues, most notably on Syria.
Erdogan’s visit was crowned by the establishment of a “Strategic Cooperation Council” between the two countries for that purpose.
The trip followed Ankara’s decision to participate in the Saudi-led Islamic Military Alliance announced in mid-December by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said after the Saudi announcement that Turkey looked “favorably” on the alliance, which he characterized as “a step in the right direction by Islamic countries.” He said the alliance will counter efforts to correlate Islam and terrorism.
