Why the Turkish military obeys Erdogan?
July 12, 2020, 6:15 am

Dalia Ziada

For more than six years, Erdogan has been wreaking havoc in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Turkey has been using Islamist terrorist organizations and non-state actors, which Turkey and Qatar co-sponsor, to threaten the well-being of the national states in the region, with the purpose to build an Islamic Caliphate system and recapture the legacies of the historical Ottoman occupation of MENA. The mercenaries positioned by Erdogan on the ground in Syria, Iraq, and Libya are commanded by the Turkish military.

Why the international community is turning a deaf ear to Erdogan’s atrocities in the Middle East and North Africa is not the interesting question, any more. The real question is why the secular Turkish military is obeying the Islamist Erdogan in his quest for establishing an Islamic Caliphate over the ruins of secular national states in the region. One of the ideologies, dearly embraced by the Turkish military, is being “guardians of secularism” and “defenders of Kemalism.” The former Turkish President, Süleyman Demirel, once said: “in Turkey, God first created the military. Then he realized his mistake, and created the Turkish people as an afterthought.” Why did the Turkish military lose its status and pride to a Muslim Brotherhood president?

The Turkish military is sacrificing its best soldiers and equipment to accomplish Erdogan’s Islamist agenda, not only abroad, but also inside Turkey. In early July, the Turkish Minister of Defense visited Al-Watiya in Libya and ordered the building of an airbase there. A few days later, airstrikes by the Libyan National Army and, allegedly, its regional allies targeted the Turkish airbase, leaving three radars completely destroyed and six Turkish military personnel killed, including a reputable field commander. Other two Turkish officers were killed during a former Turkish military assault on Libya, in February.

Some observers argue that the failed coup attempt against Erdogan, in 2016, and the consequent purging of top military leaders has weakened the military joints and disintegrated its structure. This forced the current military leaders, led by Erdogan loyalists, to crumble under Erdogan’s wings. This argument was enhanced by a report, conducted by European Union’s Intelligence and Situation Center (INTCEN), and leaked by the British The Time magazine in 2017. The report finds that Erdogan had planned the purge of Kemalist and secular military officers, long before the 2016 coup attempt. The report argues that the coup attempt was meant to pre-empt the pre-planned purge. In other words, the purge was not a vengeful consequence of the failed coup, but a motivator for the coup attempt.

However, the history and belief system of the Turkish military tells us that the current submission to the Islamist regime of Erdogan is voluntary and won’t last long. The ongoing bleeding of military personnel and equipment in quest for Erdogan’s illegal ambitions in the Middle East has already exhausted the military and stirred resentment among officers and commanders of all ranks. In January 2020, RAND Corporation, an American think tank, published a report titled “Turkey’s National Course: Implications for the US-Turkish Strategic Partnership and the US Army.” The report argued that there is a strong discontent against Erdogan inside the Turkish military, that may lead to another coup attempt in the future.

Nevertheless, the strong grip imposed by Erdogan over state institutions, including the military, after the failed coup in 2016, is not the only reason why the Turkish military is not willing to challenge Erdogan through a coup d’état. Actually, it can hardly be a logical reason to justify military’s obedience to Erdogan. If the military leaders are willing to challenge or plan a coup against Erdogan, it would not have tolerated its dominance over decision-making in the most powerful institution for so long. In fact, the Turkish military is not forced to obey Erdogan; it is voluntarily following Erdogan’s orders to maintain its own legitimacy and preserve its image inside Turkey and in the eyes of the international community.

The Turkish people have strong negative feelings towards military coups for their constant occurrence during the Ottoman era. The secular pro-democracy political opposition won’t endorse the military to launch a coup against Erdogan, or call upon the military to rid them of Erdogan. It is not possible due to the public consciousness of the citizens and how they perceive the role of the military within the state. Should the military launched a successful coup, the political aftermath will be too overwhelming for the military to handle. This will expose Turkey to huge security risks, given its lengthy incubation of Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists inside Turkey and in northern Syria.

Another dimension has to do with the international standing and foreign relationships of the Turkish military with important allies. The current Minister of Defense, Hulusi Akar, though being an Erdogan loyalist, is highly respected and often contacted by the United States military on issues related to Turkey and Turkish operations in the Middle East. The Turkish military is the second largest standing military force in NATO, after the United States Armed Forces. The civilian control of armed forces is a doctrine highly respected and strictly applied by NATO member states, including the United States of America. Out of commitment to this principle, the secular Turkish military is voluntarily obeying the Muslim Brotherhood’s Erdogan in pursuing his Islamist agenda, even if they disagree with it.

It is pretty unlikely that the Turkish military is going to orchestrate another coup attempt against Erdogan or stop implementing his illegal destructive assaults on MENA countries. However, the collapsing economy and the long record of political failures of Erdogan and his AKP, over the past few years, portends that his end in power is approaching. If a popular revolution against Erdogan does not erupt in the next months, the Turkish people will vote him out in 2023 elections. Erdogan’s end is much closer than we think and it does not need a coup d’état to happen.

by : Dalia Ziada

The Future of U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East An Episode of an American Spring

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.