For first time in 13 years. Türkiye heads to Arab League ministerial meeting - Reuters

The news agency, citing its own anonymous sources, notes that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet with representatives of Arab League member countries amid the escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

The article highlights that Türkiye, which has condemned Israel’s actions and supported charges against it in the International Court of Justice, has had tense relations with some members of the Arab League in recent years. However, it is reported that despite these tensions, Ankara has improved ties with Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, while remaining in conflict with other countries, including Syria.

Since the start of the war in Gaza, Türkiye has joined the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s joint contact group aimed at ending the conflict. According to a Turkish diplomatic source cited by Reuters, Fidan’s invitation to this meeting reflects the growing interest in Türkiye’s regional role and its desire to strengthen cooperation with the Arab world.

Türkiye is also negotiating with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on a free trade agreement, aiming to finalize it by the end of the year. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Islamic countries to unite against the threat of Israel’s so-called "expansionism."

Arab League

The Arab League (AL) is a regional organization founded in 1945 to strengthen cooperation among Arab countries. Its primary aim is to promote political, economic, cultural, and social collaboration among its member states.

The League comprises 22 countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, and other Arab states of the Middle East and North Africa. The organization plays a significant role in addressing conflicts, particularly in the Israeli-Palestinian issue and other regional crises.

Türkiye is not a member of the League; however, it maintains relations with many member states and actively cooperates with them at various levels, especially in economic, political, and security matters. In certain instances, Türkiye participates in AL meetings as an observer or partner to discuss shared regional challenges.

Some of the main reasons Türkiye did not participate in League meetings for 13 years include strained relations with Egypt after the ousting of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 and the rise to power of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Syrian crisis, and complicated ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia due to support for different factions in regional conflicts, particularly in Libya and Qatar, as well as a rivalry for influence in the region.

Previously, we reported that Türkiye applied to join BRICS.