Archive · 16 Nov 2025
Turkiye's Neo-Ottoman Policy and the Sunni Divide
Imagine the big Muslim family, called the Ummah, is like a neighborhood.
For a long time, the Ottoman Empire, led by Turks, was like the 'big boss' of this neighborhood.
After the empire broke up, Arab countries became more in charge.
Now, the leader of Turkey, President Erdogan, wants to be the 'big boss' again, like in the old days.
This makes many Arab people nervous because they don't want Turkey to tell them what to do.
They remember when the Ottoman Empire ruled them and don't want that to happen again.
So, while they are all Muslim, there's a bit of a disagreement between the Turkish side and the Arab side about who should lead the neighborhood.
Turkiye's President Erdogan is pursuing a 'neo-Ottoman' foreign policy to re-establish Turkic leadership within the global Sunni Muslim community.
This policy is met with resistance from Arab nations who fear a return to Ottoman-era dominance and prefer to maintain their own influence.
Historical rivalries, ethnic differences, and competing geopolitical interests fuel the complex relationship between Turks and Arabs.
Recent actions by Erdogan, such as reconverting Hagia Sophia and changing Turkey's name, are seen as attempts to bolster his image as a global Muslim leader.
The Sunni Muslim world, despite its large population, is not a monolithic bloc and contains internal divisions, including between Arab and non-Arab communities.
- Who
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and various Arab states
- What
- Turkey's 'neo-Ottoman' foreign policy aiming to re-establish Turkic hegemony within the Sunni Muslim world, leading to tensions with Arab nations.
- When
- Ongoing since at least 2003, with significant developments in 2020, 2022, and following the October 2023 Gaza conflict.
- Where
- Middle East, former Ottoman territories in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
- Why
- Erdogan seeks to restore Istanbul's historical leadership within the Muslim world, while Arab states resent potential Turkish dominance and prefer to maintain their own influence and independence.
- Ottoman Empire Founding
- 1299 by Osman I
- Ottoman Empire Dissolution
- 1923
- Hagia Sophia Reconverted to Mosque
- 2020
- Turkey Renamed Turkiye
- 2022
- Sunni Muslim Population Percentage
- Nearly 90%
- Erdogan Era Begins
- 2003