Turkey’s new push for leadership in the Islamic world

Turkish President Erdogan is gearing up for war. Given his support globally to radical Islamist regimes, Turkey may soon replace Iran and Pakistan as the chief sponsor for terrorist groups. In recent trips to Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia Erdogan supervised the signature of several defense agreements. In Maldives, recently elected anti-India, Islamist President Muizzu visited Turkey for his first bilateral trip. In exchange Turkey provided Maldives with drones extending Turkish influence into the Indian Ocean. Similarly last year, by providing support to Somali President Hassan Shiekh whose son was accused of manslaughter in Istanbul, Turkish navy will patrol the Somali coast and extend Erdogan’s domain to the Red Sea.

A recent poll by ASAL Araştırma ve Danışmanlık reveals that 84% of Turks perceive Israel as an enemy, while 75% hold the same view of the United States. This reflects the impact of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s sustained campaigns portraying these nations as threats to Turkey’s sovereignty and stability. Erdogan has accused Israel of territorial ambitions against Turkey and alleged that the US is attempting to encircle the country through military bases in Greece and naval deployments in the eastern Mediterranean. These narratives have been amplified by government officials and a media landscape largely under state control. Conversely, 52% of Turks now view Syria—under the leadership of Ahmad al-Sharaa, associated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) —as a friendly nation, indicating a significant shift in public perception influenced by favorable media coverage and official endorsements. This deliberate strategy by the Erdogan administration has reshaped Turkish public opinion, casting traditional Western allies as adversaries while fostering closer ties with groups previously deemed extremist.

The Turkish intelligence agency (MIT) has reportedly developed covert plans to establish clandestine cells comprising carefully selected foreign jihadists who have operated in Syria with Turkey’s logistical support, reports the Nordic Monitor. These operatives would be deployed to their home countries or third countries to serve Turkey’s strategic interests when necessary.

Confidential sources suggest that MIT has screened members from jihadist groups like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Hurras al-Din (HAD), ISIS, and others to recruit assets for covert operations. The agency’s efforts are reportedly supervised by MIT’s Special Operations Directorate under Kemal Eskintan (alias Abu Furqan), who has facilitated Turkish support for jihadist factions across the Middle East and Africa.

A key MIT-backed figure, Ömer Çiftçi (alias Umar Mohammed Jaftashi), was recently promoted to brigadier general in the Syrian army after being granted Syrian citizenship. His appointment reflects MIT’s influence over Syria’s newly restructured military following the takeover of Damascus by Ahmed al-Sharaa (alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), a long-time MIT asset.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that Turkey has more than 80,000 armed proxy fighters in Syria, many of whom have integrated into the new Syrian army. However, some remain active in smaller jihadist groups near the Turkish border, where they continue to be vetted for MIT’s secretive operations abroad.

The report also alleges that MIT has previously used jihadist groups for political gains, including false-flag attacks in Turkey to consolidate power for President Erdogan. These activities suggest Turkey’s intelligence agency is expanding its covert operations to undermine security in Europe and Asia, destabilize governments, and influence public discourse.

Turkey has also significantly increased the issuance of special passports (hususi pasaport), which allow visa-free travel to numerous countries. This expansion has raised security concerns, particularly regarding their potential misuse by individuals linked to organizations such as Hamas.​

Reports indicate that Turkey has provided passports and identity cards to Hamas members residing in Istanbul. In 2020, Israeli officials confirmed that Turkey granted passports to a dozen Hamas operatives, facilitating their international mobility. Additionally, some senior Hamas figures have acquired Turkish citizenship, enabling them to travel more freely and potentially plan or coordinate activities abroad. ​

The surge in special passport issuance, coupled with Turkey’s reported support for Hamas, has heightened concerns about the potential for these documents to be exploited by individuals involved in activities that could pose security risks internationally.

Overall it seems that Turkey is preparing for an asymmetric war. It is also taking advantage of the European Union’s dependence on it, as well as its position as a NATO member to bolster its defense industry, as Baykar’s recent purchase of Italian aerospace company Piaggio Aviation shows. Beyond Iran and Pakistan, Turkey and its activities must be checked and kept under observation especially after the latest moves by Erdogan to suppress opposition.