The 24 June re-election of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan means the continuation of the country’s key foreign policy strategies. Relief for Doha then, for whom Turkey is an increasingly crucial regional ally given its vitriolic relationship with its neighbors.
When Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt imposed an economic blockade on Qatar in June 2017 (MEES, 9 June 2017), Turkey stepped in by airlifting food and medical products to the emirate, providing a vital bulwark against potential shortages. The Turkish parliament also rushed to ratify an agreement to deploy Turkish troops at a military base in Doha – albeit far smaller than the US Al-Udeid base. (CONTINUED - 1619 WORDS)
