What to expect from Erdogan’s visit to the three Gulf countries
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will soon begin his visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf countries. Turkey has different relations with each of these countries, they share economic interests and political issues.
The visit is likely to be the first to the UAE, following last month’s visit by Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek and Vice President Sevdet Yilmaz. The first country Erdoğan visited after forming a new cabinet was the United Arab Emirates. A high-ranking Emirati delegation responded with the visit as a basis for the president’s upcoming trip, which could lead to the signing of several agreements between Ankara and Abu Dhabi, particularly on investment cooperation. Erdoğan’s last trip to the United Arab Emirates was in February last year, following the rapprochement of the two countries.
The two-day talks between Turkish and Emirati delegations focused on renewable energy, transport, defense and trade. The UAE may be interested in investing in the Istanbul Metro project and the high-speed train between Istanbul and Ankara.
In March, Ankara signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to double trade, signaling growing economic ties between the two countries. After Turkish elections in May, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates ratified a free trade agreement signed in March to boost trade between the two countries to $40 billion over the next five years. The United Arab Emirates can invest up to 30 billion dollars in Turkey, and a goal has been set to double Turkey’s exports to the United Arab Emirates from 5 billion dollars to 10 billion dollars.
The Turkish government plans to attract 25 billion dollars in investments from the Gulf countries using methods such as privatization and procurement. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said Turkey is negotiating with the Gulf Arab countries to sell the operational rights of Alsancak Port in the Aegean city of Izmir. Uraloglu did not specify that he would be the ruler of any Gulf state.
The Gulf countries are candidates to fill the investment gap in Turkey, prompting the president’s visit.
Cinema Cengiz
But the Gulf countries are candidates to fill the investment gap in Turkey, prompting the president’s visit. It may be after the NATO meeting held in Lithuania on July 11-12. Şimşek said that he will bring some investment agreements between the two countries without giving further details. His visit to the United Arab Emirates was described as “productive”. The topics discussed will then be concluded with Erdoğan’s visit.
Shimsek’s ministerial appointment was welcomed by Gulf investors, who saw him as market-friendly after five years in the same role. He has played a key role in implementing what he calls “rational” policies and has promised to restore the “predictability” of the Turkish economy, which the Gulf states want. A few weeks before the appointment, I ran into Shamsek at the Mall of Qatar and we had a brief chat about the tour. He was on a business trip to Doha following his visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Şimşek has strong business ties in the Gulf countries, which is now helping Turkey find a way out of its dire economic situation. As a result, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are providing Turkey with much-needed foreign currency. Central bank through swap agreements and direct deposit.
Turkey considers the Gulf countries key partners in areas such as trade, economics, energy and defense. However, economic stability and trade opportunities are not the only driving force behind Turkey’s policy to strengthen its ties: regional security concerns and a normal diplomatic climate have also pushed Ankara to get its ties back on track.
Although Turkey and the Gulf states have been on opposite sides for a decade, they are also threatened by instability in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iraq. Although Iran is pursuing new diplomatic relations with the Gulf countries, marking a new chapter in regional politics, its emissaries still pose a threat to Turkish and Gulf interests in the region. More importantly, the climate of diplomatic normalization has allowed Turkey to shed its image as an outsider in the region by opening the door to re-engagement with former regional enemies, especially Egypt. This week, Ankara and Cairo exchanged ambassadors for the first time in a decade to return to normal diplomatic relations. The move was welcomed by both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as it is beneficial for regional stability.
As Turkey strives to diversify its economic partners, prevent security threats and increase its position in the region, common economic interests and political issues are said to strengthen its relations with the Gulf countries. However, it is not a bed of roses, Ankara has to walk a fine line with various actors while pursuing both regional ambitions and domestic economic goals.
- Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who focuses on Turkey’s relations with the Middle East. Twitter: @SinemCngz
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