Turkish President Recep Erdogan has, over the years after his ruling Justice and Development Party had consolidated their grip on power, slowly shed his democratic cloak to reveal a visible aggressive hegemonic attitude driven by an ideology that is self-serving at the best and dictatorial at the worst. He has set in motion too many actions in his belief that his dream of resetting the Ottoman Empire is now within reach. But his foolish policies, both within and without, are in reality sending him and his country into isolation with the global community viewing his singular pursuit for power with ideological policies as a threat to peace and security. When he took power in the year 2003, Turkey was largely a secular and modern country but that is no longer the case 17 years into his rule. Erdogan's power-driven and radical policies have split the nation into those for him or against starkly. It is also widely believed that radical ideas are winning out in Turkey with Erdogan trying to realize his belief of a modern Ottoman Empire with an extensive capability to influence political dynamics of two continents — Europe and Asia. International media, especially from Europe, have cited this aggressive stance in his critique of him, but till his adventure came closer to home, the European Union have not acted with vigor that could have stemmed the slow elking policies of Erdogan, whose hegemonic tendencies is coming more under EU's scrutiny following his confrontation with NATO members Greece and Cyprus with his misadventure in the Mediterranean. The forays of the Turkish leader, reported by a local portal Ekurd.net, stressed that it was slowly, but surely in the making. It wrote, today Turkey has a strong military presence in northern Syria, where it has positioned its troops along with its proxy militias. It uses its militias against President Bashar Assad's regime while also fighting Kurds suspected of helping the Turkish PKK movement seeking autonomy. Turkish forces have invaded northern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan) in the name of fighting PKK Kurdish guerrillas while they are also training Iraqi Turkmen a minority of Turkish origin to develop them as their proxies in the future. In addition, Ankara has entered into a security cooperation agreement with Qatar in 2010. It has established a military base in Qatar in 2015 and sent a further 3,000 troops in 2017 to sow disunity among the Gulf Arab nations, while also setting up a military base in Somalia, allegedly to train local troops but aimed more towards keeping eye on important shipping lanes of Red Sea. Turkey has blatantly intervened in the Libyan civil war and this is all done to push forward Erdogan's grand dream. The portal also reported that in addition to direct military involvement the Turkish president is also supporting terrorist and extremist outfits across the region. His power-driven regional policies are consistent with his approach on the domestic front as well. Now it's widely believed that radical ideas are winning out in Turkey, which was made more evident by recent conversion of Hagia Sophia originally a Byzantine church turned museum into a mosque. Apart from mobilizing Muslim Brotherhood support from all corners of the world, Erdogan has employed a two-pronged ploy in making political gains. He has been using the "Turkish soft power" through tourism, soap serials, or commercial exports to shape an image of the nation that's being reimaged according to Erdogan's colonial ambitions. Erdogan's popularity is waning both nationally and internationally with his singular pursuit of an ambitious dream. His authoritarianism is setting the country back in terms of democracy, civil rights, free media, and economic development and Turkey's pursuit of insular policies is likely to drive the rest of Europe further away. And amid a dire economic situation, Erdogan is facing a push back at home. Opposition to Erdogan is growing with parliament members from his own party deserting to join a new opposition movement named Al Mustaqbal, which means "The Future", created by none other than former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. While his policies are threatening regional stability, his aggressive use of radicalized ideology in his expansionists' aims is also impacting South Asia. The international media are reporting that the Turkey is not stopping at meddling in the region, but exporting their brand of proxy policies in South Asia too. Turkey's attitude toward the new realignment in the Middle East is already reverberating regionally, but even before the regional reorientation it had spread its tentacles toward Asian countries "There can be no mistaking the importance of the strategic realignment in the Middle East, especially with Turkey and Iran showing a willingness to back terrorists and export revolution through their proxies, who are also their ideological partners, " The National Interest reported, adding, the decision first by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and next Bahrain to normalize relations with Israel formalize a détente that has been years in the making. Zee News, also reporting on the regional realignment, said that the Arab world is now working towards ensuring peace in the region, but, this development was not well received by certain Muslim nations, especially Turkey, who aggressively attacked UAE for the move. Following the announcement of diplomatic relations by the two countries, Erdogan termed it a US-sponsored deal and threatened to recall its ambassador from UAE and suspending its diplomatic relations with Abu Dhabi, reported Zee News. However, the criticism by Turkey is just another attempt to increase Erdogan's influence over Muslim countries by dividing the Muslim world. The response by UAE on Turkey's allegations highlighted the aspirations of Erdogan and double standards of Turkey. Rebutting Turkey's allegations, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash reminded Turkey of history and highlighted its "double standards". He pointed to Turkey's growing trade links with Israel and its significant economic presence in the country. He also reminded Turkey that more than half a million Israeli citizens visit Turkey every year. Most importantly, Turkey has set up its embassy in Tel Aviv and it was also one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, long back in 1949, according to Zee News. Certainly, Israel and India have already broken the ice, notwithstanding India's substantial economic ties to Iran. But Pakistan seems to be moving in the other direction toward the new radical bloc, The National Interest said. Within Pakistan's leadership, there is now a debate about whether to join the Turkish camp, a never thought about possibility. The paper quoted Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States and now a scholar at the Hudson Institute, as saying that Pakistan was putting ideology above more pragmatic concerns. International media are also stating that Erdogan is now looking towards South Asian countries, housing a large number of Muslim populations in addition to his aggressive regional policies. He is eyeing the South Asian countries in his expansionist map and plans to dominate these countries by promoting either the "Turkish soft power," or violence through local radical militias. The South Asian authorities need to act to check Turkey's insidious activities in the region. Much has been discussed both in the international and South Asian, especially Pakistani, media about the regional realities, with questions being asked about the Qatari, Malaysian and Turkish influence on Pakistan, and whether it can afford a mis step with a host of issues raging within it, especially with a decision of its status in FATF just round the corner. Realpolitik stresses that nations do not object to countries forging bilateral ties. However, the problem arises when countries forsake these ties and join regional alliances that act to destabilize the region. Turkey with its actions is creating and exploiting fissures in Islamic nations hoping to set up its own splinter faction within the Muslim world. And those nations trusting Turkey to take in their interest too in this drive will find that they have been duped with the Turkish sleight of hand that recognizes only its interest. Turkey should heed the fact that history has shown that you reap what you sow, and also countries that prioritize ideology above both peace and their economic development tend to spiral downward. Amidst all the chaos created by Erdogan's expansionist plans, the unity of Islamic countries has proved to be the biggest sufferer and global peace the biggest casualty.
