Saudi Arabia’s renewed regional activism aligns with Turkey on key issues, forging a partnership to bolster Riyadh’s diplomatic power.
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Turkey’s evolving policy on freedom of religion, reflecting its Anatolian identity, drives its multi-aligned foreign policy and redefines its partnership with the U.S.
Reopening the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline strengthens trilateral ties, diversifies energy supplies, and creates a counterweight to Iran’s regional influence.
Egypt and Turkey deepen ties through economic and military deals, united by opposition to Israel’s Gaza policy and regional aims.
Öcalan’s call to disband the PKK offers Turkey a path to end decades of conflict, though implementation remains uncertain and conditional.
Turkey sees dual wins with the SDF’s disintegration and Israel’s non-intervention, strengthening Ankara’s influence as Syria’s Kurds lose autonomy and Damascus reasserts control.
A formal alliance offers Ankara no better defense than NATO, which already provides superior nuclear deterrence. Analysts suggest the move is less about genuine security needs and more about gaining export markets, foreign currency, and political leverage within existing alliances.
Riyadh’s strategy blends cooperation with Turkey against Iran, leveraging tribal networks in northeast Syria, and rallying Gulf diplomatic pressure against Israeli expansion. Success depends on Damascus’s ability to unify the country amid persistent external interference.
The government’s power rests on a coercive state apparatus and Western allies’ reluctance to act, given Turkey’s geopolitical value. However, large-scale societal mobilization is the critical force that could fracture regime loyalty and force a democratic course correction.
Turkey is a vital transit hub for Caspian energy and a critical regional bridge, making its partnership indispensable for the EU’s strategic goals in the South Caucasus.