The Impact of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood on Turkish Foreign Policies: A Case Study of Relations with Iran and the Arab World
The Impact of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood on Turkish Foreign Policies: A Case Study of Relations with Iran and the Arab World
The Impact of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood on Turkish Foreign Policies: A Case Study of Relations with Iran and the Arab World
Dr. Ahmed Metwally Abdalla
The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, an influential Islamist organization founded in 1928, has had a notable impact on the foreign policies of various countries, including Turkey. Under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Turkey’s foreign policy has increasingly reflected the ideological currents associated with the Brotherhood, especially in its relations with Iran and the broader Arab world.
Turkey’s relationship with Iran has been shaped by a complex interplay of religious, political, and strategic factors. Both countries, while historically rivals, have found common ground in opposing Western hegemony in the region. The AKP’s rise to power marked a significant shift in Turkish foreign policy, characterized by a more assertive and independent stance. This new approach resonated with the Brotherhood’s vision of an Islamist political order, facilitating closer ties between Ankara and Tehran. The cooperation between the two nations is evident in their coordinated efforts to address regional crises, such as the Syrian civil war, where both have supported different factions yet maintained diplomatic channels to manage their differences (Aras & Yorulmazlar, 2016).
In the broader Arab world, the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood on Turkish foreign policy is most evident in its support for Islamist movements during the Arab Spring. Turkey’s enthusiastic backing of the Brotherhood-affiliated parties in Egypt, Tunisia, and Syria demonstrated Erdoğan’s alignment with the Brotherhood’s ideology. This policy, however, has had mixed results. While it initially boosted Turkey’s influence in the region, it also led to strained relations with countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which viewed the rise of the Brotherhood with suspicion and as a threat to their own monarchical rule (Altunişik, 2014).
The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s impact on Turkish foreign policy is further highlighted by Turkey’s response to the 2013 military coup in Egypt, which ousted President Mohamed Morsi, a leading figure in the Brotherhood. Turkey’s vehement condemnation of the coup and its subsequent diplomatic fallout with Egypt underscored the ideological affinity between the AKP and the Brotherhood. This incident also strained Turkey’s relations with other Arab states that supported the coup, reflecting the deep divisions within the Arab world over the role of political Islam (Özkan, 2014).
In conclusion, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has significantly influenced Turkish foreign policy under the AKP, particularly in its relations with Iran and the Arab world. The ideological convergence between the Brotherhood and the AKP has fostered closer ties with Iran and support for Islamist movements in the Arab world, although this has also led to diplomatic challenges and regional tensions. As Turkey continues to navigate its foreign policy amid a rapidly changing Middle Eastern landscape, the legacy of the Brotherhood’s influence remains a pivotal factor.
References:
Altunişik, M. B. (2014). Turkey as an ‘Emerging Donor’ and the Arab Uprisings. Mediterranean Politics, 19(3), 333-350.
Aras, B., & Yorulmazlar, E. (2016). Turkey and Iran after the Arab Spring: finding a middle ground. Middle East Policy, 23(4), 47-58.
Özkan, B. (2014). Turkey, Davutoglu and the Idea of Pan-Islamism. Survival, 56(4), 119-140.
