Turkey's ties with “Hamas“, which until recently were a source of tension with Washington, have become a significant geopolitical asset, writes Reuters, reports News.bg.
Ankara managed to convince the Palestinian group to accept US President Donald Trump's Gaza agreement, strengthening its position in the region at the expense of Israel and some Arab rivals.
“Hamas“ leaders initially opposed the US ultimatum to release the Israeli hostages, but backed down after the intervention of Turkey, which they consider a political patron. US President Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, calling him a reliable ally and a key factor in the ceasefire.
The Gaza deal has not only stabilized the situation in the enclave, but also strengthened Turkey's ambitions for a central role in the Middle East. Turkey is now seeking to use its influence to advance outstanding issues with Washington, such as easing sanctions, resuming the F-35 program and achieving its security goals in Syria.
The diplomatic realignment between Ankara and Washington began during Erdogan's visit to the White House in September - his first in six years. The meeting discussed points of contention such as US sanctions over Russian S-400 missile systems and the role of the US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Turkey sees as a threat.
Turkey's inclusion in the talks was initially blocked by Israel, but Trump intervened, putting pressure on Tel Aviv. Turkey, along with Qatar, Egypt and the US, guaranteed Hamas the terms of the ceasefire, which led to the release of Israeli hostages taken during the attack on 7 October 2023.
However, it remains unclear whether the agreement will pave the way for the creation of a Palestinian state, with some participants, including Turkey and Arab states, indicating that the plan does not contain a roadmap to a two-state solution.
President Erdogan stressed that Turkey's priority is to achieve a complete ceasefire, aid deliveries and the reconstruction of Gaza, while discussions on a possible Turkish military presence and ensuring the security of the enclave remain part of future negotiations.