In the years after 2000 AD, Turkiye gradually replaced the traditional foreign policy and looked to the West with the approach of looking to the East by turning its foreign policy. The most important reasons for this change in the structure of Türkiye's foreign policy were the developments in Iraq, the Syrian crisis, and non-admission to the European Union. In addition to the above, the influence of people like Erdogan and Davutoğlu on the change of Türkiye's foreign policy has been undeniable.

In this regard, in the last two decades, Türkiye has been strongly pursuing increasing its influence in the West Asian region; a policy whose most important goals and reasons can be called energy factor, the need to create economic mobility in Türkiye and turning into an active actor in West Asia. In this regard, from one point of view, providing domestic demand for energy and transferring energy to Europe has caused Türkiye to pursue increasing interdependence with the oil-rich countries of the Persian Gulf. In order to realize this important goal and, of course, to secure other goals and interests, this country officially entered this region in 2008 by signing a political, economic, and security strategic agreement with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council. It concluded an agreement with the Persian Gulf countries that was considered the first strategic agreement between the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and other governments.

Although after the conclusion of this agreement, due to its close relations with Iran and the active action of the United States in the Persian Gulf region, Türkiye did not immediately act to play a military and political role in the region, it tried to secretly develop its relations and influence in the countries of the region. In 2014, Türkiye and Qatar signed a security-strategic agreement, according to which Türkiye has a military base in Qatar. About 3000 ground forces, air force, navy, and trainers were also stationed in this base. In 2017, after the sanction on Qatar by Saudi Arabia and its allies, in addition to Türkiye's economic aid, this country deployed a new military force in Qatar and its base to show Ankara's military support for Doha, and in 2018, Qatar gave Türkiye about $15 billion in financial aid.

In 2020, negotiations between Türkiye and Oman began on various issues, including military cooperation and the possibility of Türkiye establishing a naval base in Oman; negotiations that are interpreted as Türkiye's attempt to increase its influence in the Sea of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and even Yemen. Türkiye's presence in this region has been increasing in recent years due to the historical bilateral relations between Oman and Türkiye, and various reasons can be listed for it. Oman's strategic location and natural resources are the main attraction of Oman for Türkiye. On the other hand, Türkiye's military and industrial facilities, its convenient location for transferring energy to Europe, and its growing economy have made the Persian Gulf countries, including Oman, willing to develop cooperation between the two sides.

Based on this, the key point regarding Türkiye's foreign policy in the Persian Gulf that should be noted is that the military-security approach of this country does not interfere with the economic and development-oriented approach of this country, and the reason for this is the special attention of the Turkish authorities to reducing tension during its sharp increase. Türkiye has always prioritized the economy-oriented approach in its relations and has never sacrificed its economy for security-political issues. The proof of this claim is Türkiye's policy towards the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with whom this country has important political-ideological differences, especially in areas such as Egypt, Libya and Syria. In this regard, after a period of tension and verbal disputes, since 2020, by turning around its foreign policy, Türkiye has started a series of diplomatic measures to repair its relations with the Persian Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Since then, the country has signed contracts worth billions of dollars with countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Following the reduction of the United States military presence in the Persian Gulf region (from 2021), this country has defined a more active role in the regional equations for itself, and with long-term goals, it has established extensive cooperation with the influential actors of the Persian Gulf region. In the latest action, Türkiye signed an agreement in March 2024 to start negotiations to finalize the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council. This agreement will free the trade of goods and services between these countries, facilitate investment and trade, and increase their commercial relations. In fact, the FTA between these countries will lead to the creation of one of the most key free trade areas in the world, between Türkiye and the members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, and its economic value will be 2.4 trillion dollars, according to the Turkish authorities.

In this regard, not only Türkiye seeks to solve its economic problems through these agreements and the development of relations, but the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf also seek to attract Turkish assistance for the development of local industries and technology transfer in their vast effort to diversify the economy and reducing dependence on oil. This issue affects the national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran from different dimensions.

First of all, considering the historical approach of Türkiye and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf region, it seems that these countries are willing to create a strategic balance against the Islamic Republic of Iran by developing relations between them. Although, in recent years, these countries have shown the green light for developing relations and de-escalating tensions with Iran, at the same time, they are interested in creating many opportunities and options for their foreign relations in the region, and this will be an alarm for Iran's active role in the economic, political and security equations of the region.

Another important point is that in recent years, Iran's regional competitors, especially Türkiye and the countries of the Persian Gulf, have tried more than ever before to create a precise and efficient balance between their security and economic policies and their goals and advance their political-security goals in such a way that there is no threat to their economy, technological growth, and tourism industry. It seems that this is the procedure that all developing countries eager for progress and transformation in the world are rising and moving towards. If the Islamic Republic of Iran takes a different path, it will gradually become a losing and undeveloped actor.

Mohammad Mehdi Mazaheri, university professor

(The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the IPIS)