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Turkey’s militarized Africa opening fuels influence wars

The rivalry between Turkey and its regional adversaries has spilled over to the Horn of Africa and other regions in the continent beyond Libya, stoked by Ankara’s militarization of its outreach policy.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (L) poses with the President of the Libyan Supreme Council of State Khalid Al-Mishri prior to a meeting in Libya's capital Tripoli, on August 6, 2020. (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
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Turkey’s opening to Africa, which began as a diplomatic and humanitarian endeavor two decades ago, is becoming increasingly militarized, fueling the regional influence wars between Turkey and Qatar on one side and Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and France on the other.

Dating back to an action plan adopted in 1998, Turkey’s opening to Africa gained momentum in 2005, which Ankara declared as “Year of Africa.” The outreach, marked by active diplomacy and humanitarian aid, turned into a passionate venture for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after his regional ambitions shot up during the Arab Spring. Africa became an attractive new ground for Ankara’s pursuit of influence, met with suspicion in the Middle East as a neo-Ottoman quest. Though the Ottoman legacy may bring back unpleasant memories in North Africa, Turkey has found ground for smoother exchanges in many other corners of the continent.

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