The Iran and Yemen wars are fuelling competition in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa with Turkey as a key player. Turkey has long recognised the importance of the region as central to its growing influence in Africa. Even so, the wars and competition have persuaded Turkey that relying on humanitarian diplomacy, development assistance and middle-power strength is no longer enough.
As a result, Turkey has rejiggered its approach to take into account a multitude of conflicts across a swath of geography ranging from the Red Sea to the Gulf, the Eastern Mediterranean to Sudan, Libya, Ethiopia, Somali, Somaliland dispute and footprints of Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Creating a mutual defence arrangement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan was a first step with Turkey expected to send troops to the kingdom in support of its offensive against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Increased support for the Sudanese Armed Forces in the country’s civil war is another.
