Bilateral ties, regional crises to top agenda during Erdoğan's visit to Kuwait next week

As part of Turkey's new inclusive strategy in both domestic and international politics, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will continue his international travels with an official visit to Kuwait on Monday and, even though the visit is considered as a reciprocation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah's visit to Ankara two months ago, diplomatic sources have noted that regional matters including the Syrian crisis are expected to be brought to the diplomatic table along with bilateral agreements between the two countries.

Speaking to Daily Sabah, well-known foreign policy expert and deputy coordinator at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), Professor Muhittin Ataman, stated discussions on economic relations will be given top priority during the visit, adding that regional matters regarding Syria and the establishment of a possible safe-zone are expected to be addressed.

President Erdoğan's visit to Kuwait comes after a critical meeting in Sochi with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. During a press conference held after meeting, the president said the two leaders had agreed on establishing a "de-escalation" zone in Syria, adding that President Putin reminded members of the media that the U.S. administration also supports the idea. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously said that Washington plans to build safe zones in Syria and suggested that "We [the U.S.] are going to have the Gulf States pay for those safe zones." Thus, implying that Kuwait would be one of the largest humanitarian donors for the Syrian crisis in the scope of the numerous humanitarian donor conferences the country has hosted while indicating that the financing of a "deescalation zone" in Syria is expected to be brought to the agenda during meetings. Commenting on the matter, Professor Ataman said regional matters will also be on the agenda of both states, noting that with regards to non-state actors, counterterrorism will be addressed as well as efforts to stop radicalism and various other threats currently facing failed states such as Yemen and Syria.

"In order for a safe-zone to be established in Syria, Turkey must seek supporters in the region; this is of crucial importance. Since Russia and the U.S. are affiliated with and supporting the PKK terrorist organization's Syrian offshoot the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), Turkey cannot act alone regarding this issue. Thus, the Gulf States are Turkey's only option and the latter aims to gain the support of Kuwait as a partner in addressing the Syrian crisis and matters related to the war-torn country and its future developments," he said. While Ataman affirmed that Kuwait shares similar views with Turkey regarding the issue of Syria, he also added that Turkey will take concrete steps in the scope of Kuwaiti support.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told Daily Sabah yesterday that there will be a number of discussions and meetings between officials from both states, further noting that the major item on President Erdoğan's agenda is the ground-breaking ceremony for the new terminal building at the Kuwait International Airport which is being built by Turkish construction company Limak. The Turkish construction company secured Turkey's largest contract abroad in a single package, securing a tender offer of $4.34 billion for Limak's construction of the new terminal to be built with a capacity to hold 13 million passengers that will later be expanded by up to 25 million with future improvements. Underlining that Turkey's relations with the Gulf States is the only remaining "healthy" relationship in the Middle East, Ataman stressed that enhancing economic relations will likely be on the agenda, noting: "It is highly significant for Gulf subsidiaries to come to Turkey," he added. Furthermore, Kuwait unveiled a new plan earlier this year to transform the country into a regional financial and cultural hub by 2035 through 164 strategic development programs.