Erdoğan’s Muslim Brotherhood loyalty undermines regional rapprochement

By Ahval,

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says he wants to reconcile with his political rivals in the region, but his reluctance to abandon support for the Muslim Brotherhood is a key stumbling block to improved ties, Pınar Tremblay wrote in a column for Al Monitor on Sunday.

Since the Arab Spring, Turkey has become a hub for exiled officials of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is considered a terrorist group by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Syria.

“Turkey’s bargaining chips are scarce, and its support for the MB is probably one of the few that still matters,” said Tremblay, who is a visiting scholar of political science at California State Polytechnic University.

“But although it may be willing to agree to curb activities of certain MB opposition voices, for Ankara it is too soon and too risky to cut off links,” she said.

Turkey and Qatar have emerged as the main supporters of the group since the Arab Spring of 2010. But while Qatar’s support has been largely financial, Turkey’s relations have been multi-layered and complex, Tremblay said.

Israel, meanwhile, has asked that Turkey close the offices of Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Hamas to help better relations. A senior bureaucrat in Ankara told Al Monitor that “this is not even an option open for negotiation for us”, according to Tremblay.

“In Turkey, the MB has domestic support and organic growth. Erdoğan’s pragmatism is well known, but on MB issues over the last two decades his support has not wavered,” she said.

Erdoğan’s recent meetings with UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan have given the illusion that Turkey is willing to realign its policies in the region, Tremblay said. But a senior Turkish diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Turkey’s ‘good relations’ with any Middle Eastern country is like a sandcastle on the beach. Only a matter of time for the next wave to knock it over.”

“Qatar’s dependency on Turkey is diminishing fast as they go back into the GCC fold,” the official said, according to Tremblay. “Now, people should be aware all Turkey is left with is the MB, therefore, I expect a stronger embrace, maybe less visible, less audible but definitely the MB is the best tool and ally Turkey has right now.”