The whole world is going through major and critical transformations because of the retreat of the West and the rise of the East (e.g. China, Russia and India), the Coronavirus and the war between Ukraine and Russia. Nobody can predict whether this war will lead to a nuclear war or the World War III. Of course, superpower struggles impact the economies and policies of other countries in this age of globalization, the Middle East region is also impacted by these changes but also influence global process such as oil and gas production.

The Arab region and Turkiye (the Middle East) are the most critical location on Earth as they connect three continents and three seas (namely, the Black Sea, Mediterranean and the Red Sea). We also witness serious changes and the struggle for no-change in the Middle East after the so-called Arab Spring, the reversal of Qatar siege, the end of ISIS, the Saudi-İran reconciliation, the revival of the Turkish-Gulf relations and the US retreat in the region. The Russia-Ukraine was boosted the posture of gas and oil producing Arab countries while the rising food prices caused serious worries among some other Arab countries.

Turkiye also exited from very critical and tight elections that were watched very carefully around the world. The Washington Post newspaper and the Economist, and Foreign Policy magazines called it “the most important elections in the world”. After a two decade rule, Erdogan won this hard fought elections and will continue his multi-dimensional foreign policy. Unlike the past governments that turned toward the West only, Erdogan opened up to the Arab and Muslim worlds and to Africa and Asia, and balanced its relations with the West and Russia even in the Ukraine war. Previously, Turkiye was able to bring the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers and managed to mediate in the grain deal that saved the world from hunger.

This new situation provides a better opportunity for an improved cooperation between Turkiye and the Arab world. The high level attendance from the Arab, Turkish and Islamic worlds and Africa proves the importance of Turkiye’s relations with these regions. After the elections Erdogan completed a comprehensive visit to the Gulf region with an economic, military and political cooperation. However, the fact that the Turkish-Arab rapprochement would bring stability and prosperity to the conflict-torn Middle East. Turkish-Arab relations also encouraged the rapprochement of the Gulf and Central Asian Turkish countries represented in their recent summit.

On the economic field, the Turkish and Arab economies complement each other. As an industrial, trade and touristic country, Turkiye imports oil and gas from Arab countries and attract tourists and investments from them. The Arab world finds affordable but quality consumer goods and opportunities of high-return investments. Turkish economy was hurt by high oil and food prices after the Ukraine war and two major earthquakes and by the uncertainty prior to the critical elections. Currently the Turkish-Arab economic relations are increasing with the encouragement of increasing political and security cooperation.

The security cooperation between Turkiye and Arab countries are a natural outcome of the ceaseless conflicts in the region (e.g. Yemen, Syria, Libya, Sudan, etc.). Because global powers have no interest resolving the crises of our region despite their sweet talks, a regional perspective is needed to tackle security issues. The sudden US withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan worried the Arab countries about their future security. The long Arab-Iranian tension is now alleviating after the Chinese mediation this year. Turkish military cooperation with Qatar and Kuwait that bought Turkish drones is now expanding to Saudi Arabia after Erdogan’s recent visit to the Gulf region.. As the confidence is building up between the two sides, the area of security cooperation is likely to increase in the long run, as well.