Report: Turkey’s regional rapprochement seen in Israel as shifting geopolitical balance

Israeli media have warned of the emergence of a “new axis” in the Middle East following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the signing of a series of cooperation agreements with both countries.

The newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported that Erdogan arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for an official visit, a day after travelling to Riyadh, signalling a “marked improvement” in Ankara’s relations with the two Arab capitals. The paper said the development comes at a time when prospects for normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia appear to be declining and Israeli-Egyptian relations are facing noticeable strain.

The report cited Dr Galia Lindstrauss, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), as saying that Turkey has worked since 2021 to repair ties across the region, although relations with Egypt proved the most complex due to previous political disagreements.

Lindstrauss said Turkey has emerged as a significant defence supplier, particularly in the field of drones, noting that Saudi Arabia’s cooperation has gone beyond purchases to include joint production. She said this reflects a broader regional trend to diversify arms sources and reduce reliance on the United States.

According to the report, the Gaza issue has been a key factor in the rapprochement between Cairo and Ankara. Egypt views developments in Gaza as closely linked to its national security and is concerned about potential displacement flows, prompting it to seek stability. The paper also pointed to joint military exercises between Egypt and Turkey last September — their first in 13 years — as evidence of warming ties.

The newspaper concluded that Israel should regard the evolving regional alignment as a new geopolitical reality, particularly as Arab states look for alternative partnerships to bolster security, potentially reshaping longstanding alliances in the region.