https://arab.news/y5y6b
In the past, Turkiye’s relationship with Israel was frequently a major point of contention with Arab countries, primarily Egypt and Syria. Now the growing Israeli threat in the region acts as a crucial source of cooperation between Ankara and the Arab world. As observers of international relations often note, “context matters” since it shapes political and military alliances, as well as rivalries.
The 2010s were crucial years that severely tested Turkiye’s relations with both Egypt and Syria. Mending ties with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s administration and the collapse of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria have opened the door for Ankara to improve its relations with both Cairo and Damascus. In this relatively stable climate, Israel emerged as a destabilizer, posing a challenge to the wider regional stability that these states seek.
Israel’s war in Gaza, its attacks in Lebanon and Syria, and its entrenchment is becoming a driving force behind Arab states’ pivot toward closer security ties with Turkiye, thanks to the latter’s burgeoning defense industry and military capabilities.
Although Turkiye’s growing collaboration with Egypt and Syria might say a lot about their bilateral relations, it cannot be separated from the wider regional context. Political cooperation among regional actors alone is not enough anymore, and their economic regional vision is at risk as long as Israel continues destabilizing the region. Turkiye, therefore, aims to move a step forward in its relations with Arab nations through a closer security-oriented cooperation to counter threats arising from Israeli policies.
