NATO nation Turkey has surprised the world after mentioning the Kashmir issue in its budget. Such a move is expected from Pakistan, but Turkey has once again raised eyebrows in India. Prior to this, Turkey had not allowed Apache helicopters to pass through its airspace, forcing the US company to fly back.
Erdogan’s Ottoman dream
Analysts are of the view that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to follow the Ottoman Empire so he can become the ‘Caliph’ of the Islamic world. Nuclear-powered Pakistan is helping in fulfilling Turkey’s ambition, and now Bangladesh has also joined hands with the nation.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan raised the issue of Kashmir while speaking in Parliament on November 18. Erdogan had earlier raised the Kashmir issue at the United Nations, where he levelled baseless allegations against India.
Turkey has over 250 embassies globally
After coming to power in 2002, Turkey has been projecting itself as a “Middle Power.” Turkey has surpassed many NATO members in diplomatic outreach and has opened over 252 embassies worldwide. It now ranks third after the United States and China in terms of global diplomatic presence.
Turkey wants to surpass Saudi Arabia
Turkey wants to take the lead as the world leader of the Islamic world by surpassing Saudi Arabia. Erdogan has rejected secular history and is using symbols of the Ottoman regime. In that process, Turkey tried to overtake Saudi Arabia during the OIC meeting. Erdogan also wanted to establish a new organisation along with Pakistan and Malaysia. He is promoting “Ittehad-e-Islam” and trying to project the idea that Muslims constitute a single nation and that Turkey can represent the Muslim world.
Erdogan wants to gain the support of Muslim nations by highlighting issues such as Kashmir, Palestine, and Islamophobia in the United Nations. Turkey is gaining support among countries with orthodox Muslim populations, and Erdogan has been travelling to these nations as well.
Turkey’s influence in Dhaka
Turkey’s religious institution Diyanet has entered Bangladesh and started increasing its influence on the ground after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. Bangladesh’s interim head Muhammad Yunus is inching closer to Erdogan.
The Turkish President is said to be close to the nation’s radical party, Jamaat-e-Islami. The organisation openly supports Turkey, and they back each other in the name of “Muslim brotherhood.” Turkey is helping the group in monetary terms.
