Erdogan in Egypt: Remaking Turkish Arab Relations

[Jefferson23]

By: Mohamed Fawzi

Published Thursday, September 15, 2011

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan’s visit to Egypt comes on the heels of the Turkish decision to downgrade relations with Israel and expel the Israeli ambassador. Turkey is now turning its full attention to the Arab Spring and its epicentre, Egypt.

Cairo - Recep Erdogan’s trip to Cairo is largely seen as a message of support to the nascent Egyptian uprising and a demonstration of solidarity with Cairo after Israel killed five Egyptian soldiers in Sinai. More importantly, Erdogan aims to forge an Egyptian-Turkish alliance to counter balance the US-Israeli one.

Israel is watching Erdogan’s visit closely as it comes at a very sensitive time. After the fall of Hosni Mubarak, Tel Aviv sought to improve relations with Cairo, hoping to avoid Egyptian popular anger. These hopes were dashed, however, when the Egyptian revolution demanded the end of gas exports to Israel. Meanwhile, official contacts between the two countries have not eased many Egyptians’ hostility towards Israel.

Some Egyptians have argued that Erdogan’s visit benefits Turkey’s verbal and economic war with Israel more than it benefits Egypt. The two countries’ relationship reached a breaking point with the Israeli army’s killing of Egyptian border guards and the storming of the Israeli embassy by protesters in Cairo. Ankara condemned Israeli’s actions and expressed support for the popular reaction of Egyptians. As might be expected, a crowd of Egyptians welcomed the Turkish prime minister at Cairo International Airport.

in full: http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/erdogan-egypt-remaking-turkish-arab-relations

[aquart]

1. Yeah, those gas fields sure look pretty, don't they?

It's so wonderful to have a convenient scapegoat when you're making a power grab.

My guess: Turkey has decided that it has to seize control of Arab spring elsewhere or face one at home. Same for Assad's big gesture in the UN.

[Harmony Blue]

2. There is no power grab to be had

Turkey is a stable Democracy, and unlike Greece, is far better off financially, and economically. The gas fields are brought up often, but they have no bearing given Turkey is simply doing what they have always done and that is exerting their sphere of influence. Most of the oil, gas, and salt pockets in the Mediterranean can not be accessed with current technological means anyways. It has always been speculated that Greece and Turkey have been jockeying for these future treasures when they would become technologically feasible to harvest, but that is pure speculation from my view.