Saudi-Egypt-Turkey Entente
The recent Saudi-Emirati-Qatari reconciliation opened the door to other rapprochement between these countries and Turkey. This was evident from recent statements which have come from Egypt about the Turkish interests in the Mediterranean. Similarly, Saudi Arabia also demonstrated goodwill in the form of its aid which it sent after Izmir earthquake in the last quarter of 2020. Subsequently, positive statements also came from Turkey.
To change the trends of events in the Middle East requires cooperation based on rapprochement between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. This rapprochement, if achieved, would mean a vital convergence of political, economic, and military forces of the three most important countries of the region.
If true Egyptian-Saudi-Turkish entente is achieved, it will be in the interest of Arab and Islamic peoples. But this reconciliation among these countries should not pave way for interfering in the internal affairs of each other. Instead, it should focus on their further development and improvement of their defence capabilities to confront external aspirations. This axis should not be based on ideological texture. This rapprochement can help in solution of many conflicts of the Arab world. This can also push the United States and other such countries to relook at their policies for the region. This will open horizons of positive changes required by it and its people.
Will these three countries go beyond temporary understandings to serve the people of the region? Because it is a historical necessity to be realised without delay.
(Osama Mahmoud Aghi in TRT Arabi)
Iran’s Role in Syria’s Misery
Amidst international and Arab rejection of Iranian entrenchment in Syria, Tehran has relied mainly on employing the ideological element. This is most important soft power which can be used in all areas for influence. Iran does not abandon its ideological facet either during its entrenchment or intervention in countries. This helps it in getting its benefits at the lowest costs without using any military power. This is how it achieves its influence gradually reshaping the orientations of values and awareness. Iran is pursuing a policy aimed at demographic and cultural change, not only by attracting Shiite fighters, but by recruiting Sunnis also in those militias and inviting them to Shiism.
This geographical change of the Syrian state, which has a Sunni majority, may help Iran to claim to be representative of the interests of the Shiites in any political settlements. This is what has happened after the fall of Saddam Hussein where it tried to form a sectarian regime based on political empowerment of the Shiites.
Iran is making efforts to gain economic control of Syria and revive the Syrian Iranian Business Forum. It has also not stopped spreading of its projects everywhere in Syria.
Today’s Syria is the outcome of Iran’s ten years of use of soft and material power to implement its Middle Eastern strategy focussed on Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen for which it relies on armed non-governmental groups and organisations.
(Huda Raouf in Independent Arabia)
Compiled and translated by Faizul Haque