Amid the ongoing cold war between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made a statement that has intensified tension in Islamic countries. He added fuel to the fire by calling the Turkish President the ‘leader of Islamic countries’. Notably, leaders of both Saudi Arabia and Turkey continue to assert their power to establish their supremacy in the Islamic world. During a program organized in Jakarta, Ibrahim praised the Turkish President, thanking him for supporting his country in difficult times.
According to the Malaysian Prime Minister, Turkish President Erdogan stood by him even in the most difficult times when everyone had left him alone. During a program organized in Jakarta, PM Ibrahim addressed Turkish President Erdogan as the ‘leader of Islamic countries’, which Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not like.
It is to be noted that this competition to become the leader of Islamic countries has been going on continuously. Even, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan also tried to make Erdogan a modern-day Caliph. But Prince Salman had curbed his intentions.
Saudi Arabia was so furious about Imran Khan’s move that it stopped aid to Pakistan. Following the tensions, Khan tried to normalise them. After several months, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman forgave him.
Therefore, the Prime Minister of Malaysia’s statement can also affect the relations between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
Who Is The Leader Of Islamic Countries?
There has been competition among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran to establish themselves as the leading nation in the Islamic world. This rivalry has resulted in strained relationships among the three countries. These countries leverage their historical, economic, and political resources to enhance their influence.
Moreover, each nation interprets Islam in unique ways to guide their foreign policies. Over the past decade, numerous Islamic nations have sought to challenge Saudi Arabia’s position as the leader of the Islamic community, as demonstrated by Imran Khan’s actions. During the Kuala Lumpur summit in Malaysia in 2019, Turkey and Iran aimed to position themselves as alternative leaders to Saudi Arabia.
Turkish President’s Wants Glory Of The Ottoman Empire Back
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to bring back the glory of the Ottoman Empire. However, Saudi Arabia is on a stronger side as the country has Mecca and Medina.
Therefore, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have always been against each other. This was the reason that in the year 2018, when Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi Arabian embassy in Turkey, President Erdogan blamed Prince Salman for it. Turkey conducted an investigation and alleged that the murder was carried out at the behest of the Saudi Crown Prince.
Whatever may be the reality behind the murder, but the purpose behind the strict investigation was to destroy the image of Prince Salman.
After this, the situation worsened to such an extent that the boycott of Turkish goods started in Saudi Arabia.
The battle of supremacy for dominance among Islamic nations is exemplified by events in 2017, when Qatar sought to enhance its ties with Iran, leading Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain to impose economic sanctions on it. Countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have employed soft power strategies to assert leadership within the Islamic world. Saudi Arabia provides financial assistance to impoverished Islamic nations, while Turkey offers arms on favourable terms, such as its agreement to manufacture Bayraktar TB-3 drones in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Iran is engaged in combating Islamic fundamentalists. Consequently, the Malaysian Prime Minister’s designation of the Turkish President as the leader of Islamic nations may spark controversy and potentially strain relations between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia for a period.
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