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Kuwait, whose amir visited Turkey last week, aims to strengthen ties with Turkey, which is seen as an important regional power to the tiny energy-rich Gulf country, amid growing uncertainty in the politically fragile Middle East, analysts have agreed.
Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabahs landmark visit to Turkey last Monday set the stage for increased economic, diplomatic and military ties as both countries signed eight agreements, including a defense deal to improve bilateral relations between the two allies.
While the Middle East is going through tough times due to the more than two-year-long crisis in war-torn Syria, Kuwait sees Turkey as a strong balancing power in the region against the countries supporting the Syrian regime, namely Iran and Iraq.
Since the start of the Syrian crisis, Iraqs Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, known to be close to embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assads main ally Iran, has given unequivocal support to the Assad regime.
The relations between Ankara and Baghdad are not only tense due to the Syrian crisis but also because Turkey believes the Iraqi Shiite-led government is monopolizing power at the expense of other groups in the country. Ankara said the Iraqi government was suppressing Sunni Arabs and other groups, while the Iraqi government accused Turkey of pursuing hostile policies in the region and interfering in Iraqi affairs.
According to analysts, Turkey was not the only country concerned over Malikis Shiite -dominated policies, but also Kuwait -- which has a considerable Shiite population -- sees the Shiite-led governments policies as a danger to the stability and security of the region.
Kuwait started to perceive a vital threat against its stability from Iran in general and Iraq in particular in recent times due to the Shiite policies of the two countries. Signing a defense agreement with Turkey is a sign that shows Kuwaits concern over Malikis recent decisions, said Muhittin Ataman, an expert on Turkey-Gulf relations at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), in remarks to Sundays Zaman.
Turkey not only signed a deal of military cooperation with Kuwait but also with other Gulf countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia-- two of the staunchest states seeking the fall of the Syrian regime -- last year.
Turkey and Kuwait have adopted a similar stance regarding the regional issues, particularly on the Syrian one, in the diplomatic sphere.
Kuwait, a country aspiring to take on a larger Mideast regional diplomatic role, has criticized the regime in Syria over its suppression of a pro-democracy uprising in the country.
Kuwait considers Turkey a balancing power
Bilateral relations between Turkey and Kuwait have gained momentum in recent years thanks to the increasing number of high-level visits from both sides.
With the growing regional role of Turkey, all internal and external developments related to the country are closely followed by the Kuwaiti government, media and the public.
Kuwait considers strengthening relations with Turkey as a pragmatic move that would serve its national interest because it perceives Turkey as the only balancing power against Iran as well as against Iraq in the region, Ataman remarked.
In order to maintain the balance in the region, Kuwait is in need of cooperating with Turkey against Iraq -- which gets Iranian support and pursues policies against Turkey -- Ataman said, adding, Indeed cooperation with the Gulf countries, particularly Kuwait, also complies with Turkeys national interests.
Kuwait, along with the other Gulf Arab states, are against Irans intervention in regional issues. Iran sees the Gulf as its own backyard and believes it has a legitimate interest in expanding its influence there.
According to analysts, as Iran increases its military power in the region, Gulf states, including Kuwait, feel the necessity to increase their military power, and they consider Turkey -- which desires to maintain stability and security in the Gulf -- a reliable partner with which they can strengthen their military cooperation.
Gökhan Bacık, an academic teaching international relations at Gazianteps Zirve University, maintained that the Gulf countries, Kuwait in particular, have come closer to Turkey with the understanding of establishing an alliance against Iran. Recently, Iraqi concern has also emerged among Gulf countries due to Malikis policies. The most important problem of the Gulf countries is demography. These countries have an important portion of the Shiite population, which Iran can easily influence from time to time, Bacık told Sundays Zaman.
Issues such as Irans nuclear program, the Arab Spring, Iranian influence on the Shiite population in the Gulf States and Iraqs monopolizing policies in the region are considered to be important factors for cooperation between Turkey and the Gulf states.
The Turkey-Gulf relationship is based on pragmatism, Bacık said.
Source: Kuwait bolsters ties with Turkey amid growing uncertainty in region
Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabahs landmark visit to Turkey last Monday set the stage for increased economic, diplomatic and military ties as both countries signed eight agreements, including a defense deal to improve bilateral relations between the two allies.
While the Middle East is going through tough times due to the more than two-year-long crisis in war-torn Syria, Kuwait sees Turkey as a strong balancing power in the region against the countries supporting the Syrian regime, namely Iran and Iraq.
Since the start of the Syrian crisis, Iraqs Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, known to be close to embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assads main ally Iran, has given unequivocal support to the Assad regime.
The relations between Ankara and Baghdad are not only tense due to the Syrian crisis but also because Turkey believes the Iraqi Shiite-led government is monopolizing power at the expense of other groups in the country. Ankara said the Iraqi government was suppressing Sunni Arabs and other groups, while the Iraqi government accused Turkey of pursuing hostile policies in the region and interfering in Iraqi affairs.
According to analysts, Turkey was not the only country concerned over Malikis Shiite -dominated policies, but also Kuwait -- which has a considerable Shiite population -- sees the Shiite-led governments policies as a danger to the stability and security of the region.
Kuwait started to perceive a vital threat against its stability from Iran in general and Iraq in particular in recent times due to the Shiite policies of the two countries. Signing a defense agreement with Turkey is a sign that shows Kuwaits concern over Malikis recent decisions, said Muhittin Ataman, an expert on Turkey-Gulf relations at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), in remarks to Sundays Zaman.
Turkey not only signed a deal of military cooperation with Kuwait but also with other Gulf countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia-- two of the staunchest states seeking the fall of the Syrian regime -- last year.
Turkey and Kuwait have adopted a similar stance regarding the regional issues, particularly on the Syrian one, in the diplomatic sphere.
Kuwait, a country aspiring to take on a larger Mideast regional diplomatic role, has criticized the regime in Syria over its suppression of a pro-democracy uprising in the country.
Kuwait considers Turkey a balancing power
Bilateral relations between Turkey and Kuwait have gained momentum in recent years thanks to the increasing number of high-level visits from both sides.
With the growing regional role of Turkey, all internal and external developments related to the country are closely followed by the Kuwaiti government, media and the public.
Kuwait considers strengthening relations with Turkey as a pragmatic move that would serve its national interest because it perceives Turkey as the only balancing power against Iran as well as against Iraq in the region, Ataman remarked.
In order to maintain the balance in the region, Kuwait is in need of cooperating with Turkey against Iraq -- which gets Iranian support and pursues policies against Turkey -- Ataman said, adding, Indeed cooperation with the Gulf countries, particularly Kuwait, also complies with Turkeys national interests.
Kuwait, along with the other Gulf Arab states, are against Irans intervention in regional issues. Iran sees the Gulf as its own backyard and believes it has a legitimate interest in expanding its influence there.
According to analysts, as Iran increases its military power in the region, Gulf states, including Kuwait, feel the necessity to increase their military power, and they consider Turkey -- which desires to maintain stability and security in the Gulf -- a reliable partner with which they can strengthen their military cooperation.
Gökhan Bacık, an academic teaching international relations at Gazianteps Zirve University, maintained that the Gulf countries, Kuwait in particular, have come closer to Turkey with the understanding of establishing an alliance against Iran. Recently, Iraqi concern has also emerged among Gulf countries due to Malikis policies. The most important problem of the Gulf countries is demography. These countries have an important portion of the Shiite population, which Iran can easily influence from time to time, Bacık told Sundays Zaman.
Issues such as Irans nuclear program, the Arab Spring, Iranian influence on the Shiite population in the Gulf States and Iraqs monopolizing policies in the region are considered to be important factors for cooperation between Turkey and the Gulf states.
The Turkey-Gulf relationship is based on pragmatism, Bacık said.
Source: Kuwait bolsters ties with Turkey amid growing uncertainty in region