Erdogan Seizes on Saudi Murder as Chance to Upend Middle East

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to turn a horrific murder in Istanbul into a catalyst for changing the balance of power in Saudi Arabia and regaining influence across the Middle East. Having remade the region’s largest democracy in his own image, Erdogan is taking aim at rival Saudi Arabia’s leadership amid international outrage over the death of insider-turned critic Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul. Erdogan has vowed to reveal what happened to Khashoggi “in all its nakedness” on Tuesday, just as the Saudis kick off a major investment forum in Riyadh. Directly refuting the Saudi account of the slaying could dramatically raise the stakes for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Turkey claims to have evidence the Washington Post columnist was tortured and dismembered by Saudi assassins who flew in on private jets. Strategic media leaks by anonymous officials suggest Erdogan possesses audio recordings that he’s using to extract concessions from the deep-pocketed Saudis and convince the West the kingdom is far from a reliable partner. This is “a gift from God” for Erdogan, a senior western diplomat in Turkey said, echoing the views of several others who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Trump, MBS At stake is not just the fraught Saudi-Turkey relationship, or ties between Saudi Arabia and the U.S., its key western ally. It could raise fresh questions about Prince Mohammed, 33, who’s projected a carefully crafted image as a modernizer abroad while brutally consolidating power in Riyadh. His supporters in Saudi Arabia say he’s firmly in control. One senior official in Erdogan’s government said Turkey has never believed the hype about the prince, known as MBS. The Turks have privately warned that Washington risks public embarrassment if it is seen under President Donald Trump to be attempting to help whitewash the circumstances around Khashoggi’s death.

https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/erdogan-seizes-on-saudi-murder-as-chance-to-upend-middle-east#gs.lfTlyGo