The Relations Between Turkey and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf: Toward a Partnership
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R.T. SAKARYA UNIVERSITY SOCIAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE THE RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE COOPERATION COUNCIL FOR THE ARAB STATES OF THE GULF: TOWARD A PARTNERSHIP MASTER¶6 THESIS $KPHWhd$ö$d Department: International Relations 6XSHUYLVRU$VVRFLDWH3URI7XQFD\.$5'$ù JULY-2013 DECLARATION In this study, all commitments regarding the scientific ethical rules have been adopted. In case of using other sources, it was referred to these sources properly to the scientific norms. There was not any alteration made in the benefited references. And I state that no part of this thesis is presented either in Sakarya University or in another university. $KPHWhd$ö$d 10.07.2013 PREFACE The subject of µThe Evolution of the Relations between Turkey and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the *XOI¶ is believed to be an important area to be investigated in order to understand the changed dynamics of the Middle East region for Turkey. The topic is also beneficial for those who want to know the dramatic evolution between Turkey and Arab Word. I would like to state my appreciations to my professor, Associate 3URIHVVRU 7XQFD\ .$5'$ù IRU KLV HQGXULQJ support and contributions. Besides, I want to express my special thanks to my family and colleagues who have encouraged me in the process of my study. Last but not least, I would like to express my gratitude to my all professors who contributed to this thesis study with their different point of views. $KPHWhd$ö$d 10.07.2013 CONTENTS LIST OF ABRIDGMENTS .................................................................................................... iii SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. iii g=(7 ........................................................................................................................................ iv INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1: GENERAL OVERVIEW OF TURKISH-GULF ARAB RELATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.1. The Main Principles of the Bilateral Relations............................................................... 13 1.2. Historic Evolution of Turkish-Arab Relations ............................................................... 14 1.3. What Is the GCC ............................................................................................................. 18 1.3.1. The GCC Formation Process .............................................................................. 18 1.3.2. The Question of Whether the GCC Is a Security Organization or Not ................ 19 1.3.3. The External Factors to the Organisation ............................................................. 22 1.3.4. The Core of the GCC ............................................................................................ 23 1.3.5. Security Orientation .............................................................................................. 24 1.3.6. Political Nature of the GCC .................................................................................. 26 1.3.7. GCC Organizational Structures and Objectives ................................................... 26 1.3.8. The Supreme Council ........................................................................................... 27 1.3.9. The Ministerial Council of the GCC .................................................................... 31 1.3.10. The Secretariat General ...................................................................................... 32 1.3.11. The GCC Charter ................................................................................................ 34 1.3.12. Objectives of the Organisation ........................................................................... 35 CHAPTER 2: THE FACTORS WHICH EFFECTED THE RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE ARAB GULF STATES ............................................... 38 2.1. The New Turkish Foreign Policy Perspective ................................................................ 38 2.2. AKP Era .......................................................................................................................... 38 2.3. Revision in Turkish Foreign Policy ................................................................................ 41 2.4. Reengagement with the Middle East .............................................................................. 42 2.5. 7XUNH\¶V1HZ)RUHLJQ3ROLF\9LVLRQDQGWKH+LVWRULF&RQQHFWLRQV ............................. 49 2.6. Effects of the Famous Rejected March 1 Bill ................................................................. 52 2.7. Zero Problem Policy and the GCC States ...................................................................... 55 2.8. Issues of the Oil and Iraq ................................................................................................ 57 2.9. Turkey as an Alternative to U.S. and Europe ................................................................. 59 2.10. The Question of Iran for the GCC .................................................................................. 61 2.11. The Revolution of 1979 .................................................................................................. 61 2.12. Iraq-Iran War .................................................................................................................. 62 2.13. Hajj Demonstration in 1987............................................................................................ 64 2.14. The Impact of the United States 2003 Invasion of Iraq .................................................. 65 2.15. ,UDQ¶V5LVLQJ5HJLRQDO$PELWLRQV .................................................................................. 67 2.16. Nuclear Iran .................................................................................................................... 68 2.17. The Question of Syria ..................................................................................................... 69 2.18. The Maliki Question ....................................................................................................... 71 2.19. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict ............................................................................................. 71 2.20. Contrariety in Turkey-GCC Relations ............................................................................ 73 2.21. The Bilateral Relations between Turkey and the Leading Force of the GCC; Saudi Arabia ............................................................................................................................. 75 i 2.22. Regional Power Balances and the Threat from Iran ....................................................... 81 CHAPTER 3: THE EVOLUTION OF THE FOREIGN POLICY BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE GCC .................................................................................................... 83 3.1. The Broader Geostrategic Context ................................................................................. 83 3.2. Looking for New Alliances ............................................................................................ 84 3.3. Getting Closer with the Gulf........................................................................................... 85 3.4. The Case of Security and the Turkey-GCC Convergence .............................................. 88 3.5. 7XUNH\¶V&RQWULEXWLRQWR*XOI6HFXULW\ .......................................................................... 89 3.6. The Reasons for GCC-Turkey Convergence .................................................................. 91 3.7. Economic Benefits to Turkey ......................................................................................... 94 3.8. Forming a Security Partnership between Turkey and the GCC? .................................... 95 3.9. Turkey and the GCC States in the Shadow of Arab Awakening .................................... 97 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................... 101 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................... 106 ii LIST OF ABRIDGMENTS US : United States GCC : Gulf Cooperation Council AKP : $GDOHWYH.DONÕQPD3DUWLVL JDP : Justice and Development Party UK : United Kingdom NATO : North Atlantic Treaty Organization OECE : Organisation for European Economic Co-operation OECD : Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development CENTO : Central Treaty Organization UNGA : United Nations Genaral Assembly USSR : Union of Soviet Socialist Republics UAE : United Arab Emirates EU : European Union USA : United States of America EEC : European Economic Cooperation OAS : Organisation of American States OAU : Organisation of African Union EAC : East African Community ECOWAS : Andean Pact and the Economic Community of West Africa States LAFTA : Latin American Free Trade Association GIC : Gulf Investment Cooperation NGO : Non Governmental Organization PKK : Kurdish Worker Party (Partiya Karkeran Kurdistan) OIC : Organization of the Islamic Conference WMEI : Wider Middle East Initiative IAEA : International Atomic Energy Agency MOU : Memorandum of Understanding FTA : Free Trade Agreement ICI : Istanbul Cooperation Initiative IMF : International Monetary Fund