Conflict Of Interest - Turkey V/S Saudi Arabia

The world is running through turmoil. The recent Covid19 pandemic added a new dilemma to humanity. Islamic terrorist organizations spread their tentacle all over the world. The rise of authoritarian power like China has worsened the tumultuous situation. Democratic countries find it more difficult to withstand the attacks of Islamic zealots and the incursion of the Chinese autocratic regime. The sudden emergence of Turkey as a leading Islamic nation raises quite a few eyebrows. A few decades back, Turkey was a secular and developed country like other Western European nations. But the induction of Recep Tayyip Erdogan changed the situation drastically. Current Turkey's prime minister Erdogan believes in the Islamic state. The recent conversion of the museum Hagia Sophia into a mosque tells a lot about the vicious intention of Erdogan and clash of interest with other western powers. The last shade of Ataturk style of democratic rule erased into thin air. Ottoman Caliphate rule believed in the unification of all Islamic countries into one nation. The very idea of the Caliph ceased to exist post-exile of the Osmaanoglu family from Turkey during 1924. The government-sponsored media Gercek Hayat recently gave a clarion call for rejuvenation of Caliph rule and reemergence of Turkey as a Caliph state. This is the direct outcome of the recent conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, which woke up the Islamic zealots of Turkey and supporters of the Ottoman empire. There is a wide gulf between different political blocks in Turkey. The majority of Turkey's population and echelons of Turkey society still believe in a democracy based on secularism and contrasted the dogma of the current regime. Supporters of democracy are now being suppressed by the current regime.

The current regime tried to reinstall the Islamic Caliphate, which was abolished by Kamal Ataturk a hundred years back. Turkish rabble-rousers want the parliament to declare a new caliph. Secularists of Turkey believe that the reemergence of the Caliph will place Turkey on the smouldering cauldron of political anarchy, which will deal a telling blow to the already depleted economy of Turkey. Recent polls conducted on this very topic shows that the majority of Turkey's population are against the very idea of reinstallation of Caliph rule.

Crisis Looming Large on Turkish Economy

Turkish economy under the stewardship of Erdogan is under the deep gulf. The foreign policy of the current regime stained the image of Turkey and the economy is in a dilapidated stage. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Turkey takes a new low, with deteriorating relations with European Union and the USA worsening the situation. The current fiscal deficit adds salt to the injury. The free market is the key to economic development that does not co-exist with authoritarian rule. The outcome of the dismal performance of the current regime on the economic front is the devaluation of Turkisch currency ira and sky-touching external debt. During the 2020 financial year, inflation crossed the 14% mark, resulting in the price hike of essential commodities. Erdogan jumped into the fray in the Middle East and involved indirect war with the USA, providing succour to Azerbaijan in its conflict against Armenia. The above mentioned unwanted involvement increased the burden on the Turkish economy. The foreign trade deficit already surged past $45 billion in 2018. The economic turmoil dent the popularity of Erdogan.

Erdogan the Torch Bearer of Ottoman Empire

It seems that Erdogan takes the onus to revive the Ottoman empire. Turkish presence can be felt in the territories occupied by the 17th century Ottoman empire. Erdogan supported the erstwhile leader of the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt. Turkey, involved in a battle with Syrian president Bashar-al-Ashad, supplied weapons to the beleaguered nation Qatar. Erdogan increased his influence in MIddle-East to reduce the influence of the king of Saudi Arabia. Jerusalem is the new target of Turkey's current regime to increase its presence in the Arabic nation and decimate the very presence of powerful Israel. Former USA president Donald Trump kept mum to all these changes and declined to involve in any kind of regional warfare and detached logistic supply to the long time ally Kurdish. Now Kurdish Peshmerga is fighting for its very existence against the Turkish onslaught. Trump did not want to infuriate Turkey, the long time ally of Nato and an emerging market for the USA. The jeel to become the caliph for Islam forced Turkey to involve in multifront conflict. The traditional trade partners European Union, USA stayed away from Ankara. Turkey is looking for sudden economic collapse as recession looming large on Turkey's prospects as an emerging economic market. International Monetary Fund has yet to provide any succour in form of emergency relief funds. Erdogan's party members deserting him and joined the flock of opposition party "Al-Mustaqbal" means "The Future" formed by the former prime minister.

Conflict Between Azerbaijan and Armenia - Turkey's Involvement

Turkey wants to become the Caliph of the Islamic world replacing Saudi Arabia and started to involve in conflicts where an Islamic country is involved in conflict with other non-Islamic countries. Azarbaijan and Armenia fought (27th September 2020) a prolonged war over the long-disputed territory Nagano-Karabakh, which originally belongs to Azarbaijan, but dominated by Armenians. The 44 days war came to an end after Russian intervention, which allowed Azarbaijan to keep the conquered land and asked Armenia to hand over the rest of the territory to Ajarbaijan except capital Stepanakert. Turkey played a prime role in Ajarbaijan's victory. During the conflict, Turkey supplied indigenously built drones to Azerbaijan, which gave later an edge over Armenia. Turkey also supplied thousands of rebel Syrian fighters to Azerbaijan.

Future of Erdogan

The recent economic crisis portrayed a blurring future for Turkey. Not only the economy, but foreign policy is in shambles. The conflict of interest between Turkey and other Western powers is quite evident. Today Turkey is a beleaguered nation, involved in multi-pronged conflicts, which dent further the already depleted economy. Losing friends like European Union and the USA weigh heavily on the economy and make the economic recovery a distant dream. Erdogan's popularity in Turkey is following a declining trend. Nepotism becomes the new feature of Turkish polity. Turkey's current regime purged the country from all the detractors.

The future of Erdogan is shrouded under a black cloud. His popularity is receding. There is a chance that he might be dethroned in the next election in 2023. The vast majority of Turkish people want relief from this termagant ruler.