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Sinem Zenghiz*
Arab Gulf states have historically sought partnerships with regional states through defense and security agreements. In terms of defense cooperation, Turkey has returned to the Gulf region since last year. Turkey’s defense, security and military cooperation with the Gulf follows years of rivalry between Ankara and some Gulf leaders. The era of normalization between Turkey and the Gulf states has not only led to investments and currency swap deals, but has also paved the way for closer security and defense cooperation.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and his entourage paid an official visit to Abu Dhabi this week, where he met with UAE Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met. Discussions on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the field of police and security are on the agenda. In response, the two interior ministers announced their decision to establish a “joint strategic policing dialogue”.
Soylu called the mechanism exemplary, adding that it set an example for other countries in the region. “Through this agreement, there will be a joint assessment of the understanding of keeping our citizens safe and trying to follow up on crime and criminals. At the same time, our capabilities will be shared with each other … We already have an ongoing security cooperation agreement process. I hope We can do one in the near future,” he added.
In February, Turkey and the UAE signed 13 agreements, one of which was the start of a bilateral conference on defense industry cooperation. Ankara and Abu Dhabi had signed a memorandum of understanding on defense industry cooperation in 2011, which was approved in 2017. However, years of tension between the two countries following the approval of the MOU interrupted the cooperation process.
Now, the two countries hope to use their rapprochement to address shared security and economic challenges. In September, the UAE received its first order of armed drones from Turkey as part of a rapid improvement in relations between the two countries. The UAE has reportedly received 20 armed drones, the first shipment of 120 Bayraktar TB2 drones it hopes to buy from Turkey.
The shipment comes eight months after Ankara and Abu Dhabi reconciled and restored ties. While a possible collaboration was discussed in March 2021 between Tawazun, the UAE’s defense and security procurement agency, and Turkey’s Baykar Defense, which makes the famed Bayraktar TB2 drone, the development surprised many due to its timing and content.
Talks continued, with the UAE saying they intend to spend $2 billion to buy 120 TB2 drones, along with munitions, command and control units and training. The shipment also comes at a time when Turkish mafia leader Sedat Peker, who is in exile in the UAE, has accused figures close to Ankara’s leadership. Against this backdrop, Soylu’s recent visit has fueled speculation that the deal with the UAE could pave the way for the extradition of Peker, who previously attacked Turkey’s interior minister, back to Turkey.
The UAE isn’t the only country in the region eyeing the acquisition of Baykar’s drones. International demand for Turkish drones has soared following the impact of conflicts in Syria, Ukraine and Libya. Libya is one of the areas where Turkish and UAE interests collide. However, the rapprochement with Ankara has the Gulf countries once again turning their eyes to their old enemy Iran.
According to reports, the main reason for the UAE and other Gulf countries to buy Turkish drones is to deal with the growing security challenges from Iran and its proxy group in the region. They see Turkish drones as an important force that can outwit Iranian drones. The expansion of Iran-backed Shia militias in the region poses a threat not only to the Gulf states but also to Turkey, especially in Syria and Iraq. Turkey-Gulf cooperation has been driven in part by checks and balances on Iran’s growing influence in the region and a shared agenda to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
For decades, the security of the Gulf states has been maintained by Western deals. While Gulf states continue to rely heavily on U.S. armament, they have also recently sought to benefit from Turkey’s military expertise and strength. As instability grows in this volatile region, a shift in threat perception and security orientation has prompted Gulf states and Turkey to strengthen their political and economic ties through security and defense cooperation.
- Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst specializing in Turkey’s relations with the Middle East. Twitter: @SinemCngz
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