This article covers the turbulent relationship between Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Even if the world is concerned about the issue, the main actors in the situation are Saudi Arabia, which had a diplomatic mission in a foreign country (to take Khashoggi back in Saudi Arabia), and Turkey, which is the host country of that mission. Dr. Marco Rimanelli, professor of political science and international studies (NATO-E.U.) at Saint Leo University, explains the political dynamic between the two countries.
According to Rimanelli, typically, any diplomatic mission of a country is protected by international law of any legal investigation that has to be done. That means that the foreign country cannot take diplomatic documents in the embassy nor spy on it. However, there is an exception to this rule: the consulate of any foreign country is not covered by diplomatic immunity, only the ambassador, the diplomats and the embassy. This is why Turkey admitted that they have been spying on the General Consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul since this is important in the context of the crime; that is how the host country got proof of the Saudi consul implication in the murder. Turkey will be using that significant mistake (no immunity) for their benefit.
Rimanelli explained furthermore that Turkey, which is claiming the rights of Khashoggi as a journalist, got records of such situation, as public figures being arrested for unknown reasons, especially for the last three years since the failed coup d’état by the military against the Turkish President. He’s arrested for no reason, and hundreds of journalists are supposedly tied to his enemy Fethullah Gulen, the presumed head of the coup. Therefore, President Erdogan is not clean when it comes to journalists’ status. However, he is using the situation to get advantages from Saudi Arabia, since the country’s economy (Turkey’s) has been going down lately. Consequently, Turkey is not defending the case of Khashoggi but its own to serve his interests.
It is also important to state that the relationship between the two Middle Eastern powers is not one of the best.
“Turkey and Saudi Arabia became rivals for the last few years because Saudi Arabia has been supporting rebels in Syria (not ISIS: Islamic State of Iraq) who are close to the Kingdom. Although Turkey has accused Saudi Arabia of having complicity with Al-Qaeda from which ISIS is a derivation. Turkey is against these rebels as well as ISIS,” said Rimanelli. “The most important problem is that Turkey attempted to become important in that region. Turkey supports the Muslim Brotherhood that came to power in Egypt three years ago under Mohammed Morsi, fifth President of Egypt. During his lead, Morsi got support from Qatar and Turkey in total opposition with Saudi Arabia. In this situation, the clash has evolved between Turkey and Saudi Arabia over Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood.”
In addition, Turkey partly had issues with the United States for supporting the Syrian rebels, but they also wanted the U.S. to get rid of Bashar Hafez al-Assad, the Syrian president, but the American country refused. In this situation, the United States plays a third role in the political conflict.
“With Erdogan repressing a lot of people, his attempts to influence the area has been weakened a lot. Therefore, he got closer to the Russians while the economy of the country has been weakening as well. The relationship between the United States and Turkey became hostile over the request of Turkey. In the process, Turkey has been keeping Andrew Brunson, American pastor, hostage in prison, for the last two years and they accused him of being an ally to Gulen during the coup d’état,” added Rimanelli.
Khashoggi’s case, therefore, is an entry for Turkey to get a better relationship with the countries it conflicts with. The Turkish president is enforcing the lights on the Prince to tarnish Saudi Arabia that is in charge of the actual civil war in Yemen. Another tactic of Erdogan to gain his power back was to release the American pastor Brunson the week of Khashoggi’s death.
“In the end, what will happen is that the Saudis will have to deal with Turkey, give them a lot of money and weaken their opposition to the country. But Turkey and those who are against Saudi Arabia, will not get the dismissal of the Prince of Saudi. They will find an excuse to say that it was done by the entourage of the Prince, and he will stay there because he is too important,” Rimanelli concluded.
There is more behind Khashoggi’s death; he was killed for political reasons since he is from the royal family and disposed of information that could ruin them. His death will benefit countries politically, as enhancing the image of Turkey.
Rimanelli doesn’t believe that Saudi Arabia will ever change their ways.
“Will the Saudis change? No! Because they did not understand the gravity of what they did nor did they care! They lost a lot of money (too bad), but in the end, people will come back to Saudi Arabia because they control the price of the petrol,” he said.
Frank Orlando, an instructor of political science, seems to agree as well. He even believes that the countries not taking a stand against the Middle Eastern country can lead to them going further in actions.
“By thinking that if the United States is not going to keep them in line, Saudi Arabia may believe that they can do whatever they want,” stated Orlando.
