GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

Insights Into Turkish Domestic and International Politics (May-June 2017)

Aug 4, 2017 | 09:00 GMT

The diplomatic break between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors threatens to pull Turkey into another Middle Eastern conflict.

For Turkey, its recent troop deployment and diplomatic overtures provide an opportunity to demonstrate its influence in the region.

(STREETER LECKA/AFP/Getty Images)

The diplomatic break between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors threatens to pull Turkey into another Middle Eastern conflict. In standing by Qatar, Turkey hopes to alleviate some of the pressure on the emirate, even if it could mean worsening tensions with Saudi Arabia. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may be calculating that a demonstration of its military prowess is worth the trouble if a full-blown feud between Ankara and Riyadh can be avoided. ...