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<\/a>Turkey Expands Regional and Global Ambitions, Raising Alarm Bells in Israel<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\nAilin Vilches Arguello<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Turkey is rapidly expanding its regional and global influence \u2014 strengthening ties with Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and the Gulf states,\u00a0while pressing for a role in post-war Gaza<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 a trend that is raising alarm bells in Israel and the broader region amid shifting Middle East power dynamics.<\/span><\/p>\n As part of its push to expand regional influence and strengthen strategic partnerships, Turkey has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Syria,\u00a0expanding their military cooperation<\/a>\u00a0to cover training, advisory support, and access to weapons systems and logistics.<\/span><\/p>\n On Thursday, Turkey\u2019s Defense Ministry announced that Syrian armed forces have begun training at Turkish facilities and will also attend the country\u2019s military academies, as both nations seek to deepen their defense ties.<\/span><\/p>\n Turkey\u2019s push to expand its ties with Syria comes as the latter is reportedly in\u00a0the final stages of negotiations with Israel<\/a>\u00a0over a security agreement that could establish a joint Israeli\u2013Syrian\u2013American committee to oversee developments along their shared border and uphold the terms of a proposed deal.<\/span><\/p>\n Ankara has also been working to establish closer diplomatic and military relations with Israel\u2019s other northern neighbor, Lebanon, at a time when the country stands on the brink of renewed conflict with the Jewish state.<\/span><\/p>\n Amid mounting international pressure, the Lebanese government is intensifying efforts to meet the ceasefire deadline\u00a0to disarm the terrorist group Hezbollah<\/a>, while trying to avoid plunging the nation into a civil war.<\/span><\/p>\n As the Iran-backed terrorist group continues to refuse disarmament, Turkey is leveraging the opportunity to bolster its regional influence and expand its alliances.<\/span><\/p>\n Last week, Turkey\u2019s Defense Ministry confirmed that the country\u2019s peacekeeping forces\u00a0would\u00a0continue to support the Lebanese army<\/a>\u00a0in its mission to restore stability and peace.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOngoing efforts will focus on enhancing security in the region, promoting stability, and supporting the development of the Lebanese armed forces, with the goal of fostering and sustaining peace in Lebanon,\u201d Turkish officials announced, following the approval of a two-year extension to their mission in Beirut.<\/span><\/p>\n Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan \u2013 who has been openly hostile toward the Jewish state for years \u2013 has repeatedly condemned Israeli offensives targeting the Iranian proxy and its terrorist operations in Lebanon.<\/span><\/p>\n He has previously said that Israel\u2019s \u201cgenocidal\u201d and \u201cexpansionist\u201d policies remain the biggest threat to regional peace.<\/span><\/p>\n Ankara has also been working\u00a0to expand its regional influence in the Gaza Strip<\/a>, which borders Israel to the south, positioning itself to play a pivotal role in post-war developments under the US-backed peace plan.<\/span><\/p>\n However, experts warn that Turkey\u2019s growing involvement in the enclave\u2019s reconstruction efforts could potentially strengthen Hamas\u2019s terrorist infrastructure and undermine the fragile ceasefire.<\/span><\/p>\n As one of the biggest backers of Hamas, Turkey could potentially shield the Islamist movement in Gaza or even bolster its power, especially\u00a0as the\u00a0Palestinian terrorist group\u00a0<\/a>continues\u00a0to reject disarmament\u00a0\u2014 a key element of US President Donald Trump\u2019s peace plan.<\/span><\/p>\n In the past, Ankara has provided refuge to Hamas leaders, granted diplomatic access, and allowed the group to fundraise, recruit, and plan attacks from Turkish territory.<\/span><\/p>\n Under Trump\u2019s plan, Turkey has sought to join a multinational task force responsible for overseeing the ceasefire and training local security forces.<\/span><\/p>\n Erdogan declared that the country is \u201cready to provide all kinds of support to Gaza,\u201d and insisted that the Turkish Armed Forces \u201ccould serve in a military or civilian capacity as needed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n However, Israeli officials have repeatedly\u00a0rejected any involvement of Turkish security forces<\/a>\u00a0in post-war Gaza.<\/span><\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Turkey\u2019s participation in the International Stabilization Force would be out of the question, labeling it a \u201cred line.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Gulf states have also raised concerns about Turkish and Qatari involvement in Gaza\u2019s post-war reconstruction and governance efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n While the Trump administration has ruled out sending US soldiers into the war-torn enclave, Washington has also considered involving Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Azerbaijan in the international peacekeeping efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n US officials have confirmed that any participating countries in the international task force will be selected in\u00a0close coordination with Israel<\/a>, ensuring that no foreign troops will be included without Israel\u2019s consent.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite Turkey\u2019s efforts to advance its regional ambitions in the enclave and secure a role in post-war Gaza, Erdogan continues to attack Israel while defending the Palestinian terrorist group, as he has repeatedly in the past.<\/span><\/p>\n He has frequently defended Hamas terrorists as \u201cresistance fighters\u201d against what he describes as Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. He has even gone so far as to threaten an invasion of the Jewish state and called on the United Nations to use force if Jerusalem fails to halt its military campaign against Hamas.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Turkey\u2019s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint statement to the media in Baghdad, Iraq, April 22, 2024. Photo: AHMAD AL-RUBAYE\/Pool via REUTERS<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n