Gulf Reaches Out to Erdogan in Wary Move to Ease Tensions
- Accusations, diverging outlooks and distrust cloud progress
- Turkey plays down swift progress in dispute that spans region
This article is for subscribers only.
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are holding out the possibility of better ties with Turkey that could benefit trade and security in a volatile region, according to people familiar with the strategy.
The moves are tentative given the backdrop of longstanding tensions and jostling for influence. They are also likely to fall afoul of the Gulf duo’s insistence that Turkey rein in support for the Muslim Brotherhood, the pan-Islamist group they label as terrorist but which Ankara views as a popular movement. But even limited progress could ease frictions over wider regional issues.