Gulf monarchies and Turkey

The Syrian crisis has significantly affected the security perceptions of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. While GCC states share certain socio-political similarities, they pursued divergent foreign policies during the Syrian crisis. The divergence in their foreign policies have not only impacted intra-GCC relations but also influenced their relations with other regional players actively involved in the Syrian crisis, notably Turkey. This book delves into the multifaceted dynamics that underlie divergent responses of the GCC states toward Turkey’s policies in the Syrian crisis, which became a critical turning point in Turkey-GCC relations. Given that foreign policy is often influenced, and even shaped, by domestic socio-political environments, this book provides a comparative analysis of the domestic political environments in three Gulf monarchies—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar—and examines the distinct ways in which each of these countries perceived Turkey’s policies in Syria as the crisis unfold. The book offers a unique and timely contribution to the literature and aims to be a valuable resource for anyone studying Middle Eastern politics.