Did you hear the latest news? The Turkish Special Service (Forces) is ready for “immediate deployment to Gaza.” So, of course, according to their dictator, everyone everywhere must take heed of this profound announcement immediately and express their unconditional support. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is becoming increasingly impatient lately with the apparent lack of response to his major announcements regarding the Gaza Strip. Does anyone even know there’s such a thing as a Turkish Special Service?
It would appear that he is on the verge of an increasingly embarrassing geopolitical situation. He is worried about impending humiliation—as he should be—and appearing irrelevant in front of his Arab neighbors, as Israel has effectively shut him out of participation in the International Stabilization Force (ISF) as defined in Stage II of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan.
In fact, being cut out of the military presence in Gaza could have domestic political implications for Erdoğan as a foreign-policy setback, and severely reduces his image as a powerful Muslim leader and defender of the Palestinians. If he is unable to secure a meaningful role in post-war Gaza (such as deploying troops) due to Israeli and U.S. opposition, then he may be seen by his citizens as ineffective on the international stage. This perceived “powerlessness” is a huge factor in the Muslim world and the death knell for any Arab ruler. Instead of the hero image he craves, he would turn into the laughing stock of Trump’s Middle East peace plan. This, in turn, would no doubt contribute to declining popularity among those Muslims who expect Turkey to be a strong regional power against Israel and the West. (Read More)
It would appear that he is on the verge of an increasingly embarrassing geopolitical situation. He is worried about impending humiliation—as he should be—and appearing irrelevant in front of his Arab neighbors, as Israel has effectively shut him out of participation in the International Stabilization Force (ISF) as defined in Stage II of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan.
In fact, being cut out of the military presence in Gaza could have domestic political implications for Erdoğan as a foreign-policy setback, and severely reduces his image as a powerful Muslim leader and defender of the Palestinians. If he is unable to secure a meaningful role in post-war Gaza (such as deploying troops) due to Israeli and U.S. opposition, then he may be seen by his citizens as ineffective on the international stage. This perceived “powerlessness” is a huge factor in the Muslim world and the death knell for any Arab ruler. Instead of the hero image he craves, he would turn into the laughing stock of Trump’s Middle East peace plan. This, in turn, would no doubt contribute to declining popularity among those Muslims who expect Turkey to be a strong regional power against Israel and the West. (Read More)
