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Turkey more diplomatically isolated than ever in Arab world

Many analysts believe that Ankara’s meddling in the Arab world’s affairs has contributed to pushing some of these regimes toward Israel.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) is welcomed by Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah (R), the Qatari deputy prime minister and minister of state for defense affairs, at the aiport in Doha, Qatar. How much more isolated would Turkey become in its relations with Arab states if Qatar returned to the good graces of the other Gulf nations? — MURAT CETINMUHURDAR/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey’s Islamist-based foreign policy under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has left Ankara’s ties with the Arab world in shambles.

The days when Erdogan and members of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) assumed their Islamist identity would automatically bring Turkey and Arab regimes closer are long gone.

Erdogan’s blistering criticism of Israel, after he came to power nearly two decades ago, initially gained him many kudos among Arab leaders and was greatly hailed in the Arab street.

His policies aimed at the region following the Arab Spring, which were mostly predicated on support for the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots, washed all that away overnight as far as many Arab regimes were concerned.

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