Turkey’s Islamist-Driven Strategy Puts Ankara on a Collision Course with Israel

Since 2011, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has redirected Turkey’s foreign policy toward supporting Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and former al-Qaida affiliates, using them to extend Ankara’s influence in Libya, Syria and Egypt. Turkish financial aid, training programs and the establishment of political parties aligned with these groups have entrenched its presence, while a network of roughly 49 army bases and over 100 observation posts in Syria gives it a platform to project power into neighboring states.

The recent Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan formalizes a collective-defence framework that Erdogan hopes to broaden. Israel, once a close security partner, has warned Turkey by striking the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib as Ankara prepared to reinforce its position. The escalating military posturing and competing narratives over legitimacy in Syria suggest a heightened chance of direct conflict between the two nations. Observers note that Turkey’s strategy also includes expanding ties across Africa and positioning itself as a security bulwark against Russia in Europe, further reshaping the regional balance.