Recep Tayyip Erdogan is visiting the United Arab Emirates this Monday, February 14. The two countries, cold for years, want to strengthen their exchanges. Turkey is going through a major economic crisis, while the Emirates are suffering from fluctuations in oil prices.
In November, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed was greeted with great fanfare in Ankara. This time, it is the Turkish president who is going to the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, increasingly isolated internationally, wants to reconnect with regional powers.
Moreover, eighteen months before a presidential election where he intends to be re-elected once again, Recep Tayyip Erdogan feels that the case is not won: official inflation of nearly 49% in one year, an increase in the cost of energy which has already caused many rallies across the country.
Strategic merger
Ankara is looking for solutions, among others abroad, and when it comes, Mohammed bin Zayed announced the launch of a 9 billion euro fund to support investment in Turkey.
The Emirates, which are suffering from fluctuating oil prices, have also launched diplomatic seduction offensives in recent months, normalizing their relations with Israel – with several trade agreements at stake –, reconciling with Qatar, and therefore with the Turkey, which they have long accused of supporting political Islam and with which they oppose on several regional issues. Abu Dhabi intends to at least double its trade with Ankara and through it access new markets, Africa among others.
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