Ottoman tax: Erdogan collects from his Doha subjects

Ahmed Adel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cannot find a more suitable and easier source of funding than Qatar’s open coffers and its terrorism-supporting emir to finance Ankara during the economic crisis ravaging the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government due to Erdogan’s failed policies, the repercussions of the corona pandemic and the collapse of the Turkish lira. The Turkish president’s official visit to Doha on Thursday, July 2 came to reap support Erdogan’s chaos, terrorism and militias in countries witnessing conflict.

Open coffers

Qatari funds play a major role in financing Erdogan’s conflicts and wars, as Turkey cannot bear its own burdens in light of the successive economic and financial crises that have struck the country in recent years, including the impact of the corona pandemic on Turkey’s tourism sector, which is an important source of revenue.

Erdogan’s aggressive policies in Syria and Libya have caused tremendous losses for his country. Instead of working to revive the country’s collapsed economy and pump the money needed to save the lira from its continuing decline, Erdogan instead continues to drain the resources of his Qatari ally by pumping money into the pockets of his mercenaries and militias in Libya.

Economic collapse

Turkey’s exports fell 40.9% and imports fell 27.8% compared to May 2019 due to the Turkish authorities’ measures to attempt to contain the corona virus.

In mid-June 2020, the Turkish lira recorded its lowest level against the US dollar, losing about 13% of its value.

As a result of the collapse of Turkey’s economy and its impact on citizens, the government’s decision to change the pensions system sparked a new crisis throughout the country, with a new “integrated pension system” draft law seeking to exploit pensioners’ benefits. Union leaders threatened a general strike all over Turkey in the event that this decision is not reversed.

Turkey taxes Doha

After Turkey’s position in Libya worsened and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi responded to Turkey’s attacks by asserting that Libya is a national security issue for Egypt, a phone call took place between Erdogan and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, followed by a visit just a few weeks later, to ensure financial support for Turkey’s mercenaries and terrorists being sent to Libya after Erdogan lost a number of his officers and soldiers in battles between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and elements of the Turkish army supporting Fayez al-Sarraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA).

According to the Arab Weekly, Gulf sources described Erdogan’s short visit as being aimed at collecting taxes, just as his Ottoman predecessors had done with their former colonies for centuries, pointing out that the Turkish president is draining Doha’s wealth in order to actualize his Eastern Mediterranean dreams.

In a previous report to the same website, a Turkish diplomat, who refused to be named, stated that talking about strategic relations between Doha and Ankara comes as a loose term that news agencies only mention, while Erdogan does not discuss the details with the Qatari side, as it suffices to give Tamim orders while persuading him that he has importance and plays a key role in the region, although Doha’s true role is limited to funding only.