Turkey is expanding its influence into Africa

In global politics today, powerbrokers compete to expand their influence. Infamous in this endeavor are China, with its Belt and Road Initiative, as well as Russia and Islamic nations and groups. The red-green axis has grown stronger under the Biden administration.

Islam has been expanding by the sword in Africa via groups including ISIS, the Fulani jihadists, Boko Haram, Al Qaeda and the like. But there is also Turkey, which has its sights set on African resources as its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan works toward achieving a revived Ottoman Empire — a global caliphate.

Erdogan “has shaped a modern vision of Turkey that revives its Ottoman heritage, while championing Turkish nationalism.” Turkey views itself as “a viable alternative to traditional powers like China and Western countries.”

The big attractions of Africa are its rich natural resources; it is rich in “rare earth critical minerals essential to powering the next generation of innovation and green growth.” African countries also represent “the largest voting block of UN member states.”

America under Biden has fallen in status as a global player, and is at risk of losing even more clout. Amid the competition, Russia has now become the go-to country for many African nations, and China has a large presence, but Turkey is in the game as well.

“Flexing its Muscle, Turkey Is Spreading Its Influence in Africa,” by Simon Marks and Mohamed Sheikh Nor, Bloomberg, August 18, 2024:

(Bloomberg) — Turkey, seeking to extend its influence in Africa and strengthen energy security, will send the 86-meter long research vessel Oruc Reis to explore offshore oil blocks belonging to Somalia next month.The move, confirmed by Mohamed Hashi, director of Somalia’s petroleum ministry, could help diversify Turkey’s crude supply and is part of Ankara’s steady quest to boost ties in a region where China, Russia, Gulf states and the West also vie for sway.

Drawn by the continent’s mineral wealth and growing populations that could drive a new wave of economic growth, the focus makes a lot of sense for the county as it flexes its international clout.“ Africa is interesting for Turkey because it’s a point where it can experiment with all its newfound activist foreign policy tools and objectives,” said Batu Coşkun, an Ankara-based research fellow at the Libyan Sadeq Institute think tank….