International Relations Researches

International Relations Researches

The Conflict of Interests between Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Egypt: An Examination of Geopolitical, Economic, and Ideological Competition

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
omid azizyan 1
Bahram Nasrollahizadeh 2
1 Faculty Member, University of Kurdistan
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Political Geography, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.
10.22034/irr.2025.533755.2726
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the conflict of interests between Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Egypt following the Arab Spring developments, focusing on geopolitical, ideological, and economic dimensions. In recent decades, Egypt has become one of the most significant arenas for geopolitical competition between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. This rivalry intensified considerably after the events known as the Arab Spring, and particularly following the ousting of Mohamed Morsi's government in 2013. The central research question has been how this conflict of interests between the two countries has transformed the regional balance of power and challenged traditional equations of leadership and legitimacy. The research method is qualitative, based on content analysis of credible documents including academic articles, international reports, and primary sources. This was conducted using an integrated theoretical framework combining balance of power theory, constructivism, and power transition theory. The findings indicate that Turkey and Saudi Arabia have utilized different tools to increase their influence in Egypt; Turkey has maintained an active presence by emphasizing public diplomacy and supporting Muslim Brotherhood groups, while Saudi Arabia has done so through massive investments and support for Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's government. The conflict of interests between the two countries is rooted in geopolitical, ideological, and economic differences. This competition has not only impacted the balance of power in the Middle East but has also led to changes in the region's security and economic equations. Furthermore, the aforementioned rivalry has influenced political and security alignments in the region.
Introduction
This study aims to provide a multifaceted analysis of the conflict of interest between Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Egypt following the Arab Spring uprisings, with a specific focus on the period after the 2013 military coup that ousted President Mohamed Morsi. The primary objective is to decipher how this rivalry, rooted in divergent geopolitical ambitions, ideological orientations, and economic competitions, has fundamentally altered the regional balance of power in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The research seeks to move beyond one-dimensional explanations by investigating how this bilateral contest has challenged traditional paradigms of leadership and political legitimacy within the Arab world, using Egypt as a critical case study. The central research question explores the foundational pillars of this conflict and its profound implications for regional order, stability, and alliance structures.
 
Methodology
The research adopts a qualitative approach based on systematic content analysis. It draws on a wide range of credible sources, including peer-reviewed academic articles, analytical reports from international research institutes (e.g., IISS), official documents, and reputable press archives. The integrated three-theory framework allows for a simultaneous examination of the material, ideological, and structural levels of the rivalry, ensuring a holistic analysis.
 
Theoretical Framework  
 This study employs an integrated theoretical framework to analyze the complex conflict of interests between Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Egypt. Given the multifaceted nature of their rivalry, a single theory is insufficient for a comprehensive explanation. Therefore, a combination of three theories—Balance of Power, Constructivism, and Power Transition—provides a more precise tool for examining the bilateral relations, their impact on Egypt, and related political-economic dynamics. The Balance of Power theory, rooted in realist thought, explains the strategic and material competition between the two regional powers. It frames their actions as efforts to prevent the other from achieving dominance, leading to alliance-building and diplomatic maneuvers to shift the regional equilibrium in their favor. Constructivism adds a crucial ideational layer to the analysis. It highlights the role of identity and competing ideological projects—Turkey's support for Political Islam (e.g., the Muslim Brotherhood) versus Saudi Arabia's promotion of conservative Wahhabism. This ideological clash transforms Egypt into a discursive battleground for regional leadership of the Sunni Muslim world. Finally, Power Transition theory offers a macro-structural perspective. It situates the rivalry within a broader shift in the regional order, where a rising Turkey seeks to challenge the status quo and redefine its strategic depth, while Saudi Arabia actively resists to maintain its influential position. Egypt serves as a critical arena for this potential hegemonic transition. 
 
Discussion
The findings are structured across three dimensions: Geopolitical and Strategic: Egypt’s pivotal role made it the primary arena for a proxy struggle. Saudi Arabia provided extensive financial and political backing to the el-Sisi government to bolster a conservative order and counter the Muslim Brotherhood. Conversely, Turkey became the foremost international defender of the ousted Morsi government, offering sanctuary to Brotherhood leaders. This confrontation became entangled with other regional crises (Syria, Yemen, Qatar blockade), leading to polarized blocs—a Saudi-Emirati-Egyptian axis versus a Turkish-Qatari alignment. Ideological and Identity-Based: A deep-seated ideological schism was a core driver. Turkey’s AKP, under a "Neo-Ottoman" vision, promoted a model of political Islam and supported the Brotherhood. Saudi Arabia, perceiving the Brotherhood as an existential threat to its legitimacy based on Wahhabism, led a campaign to designate it as a terrorist organization. Thus, Egypt became a symbolic battleground for defining the future of political Islam. Economic: Economic tools were key instruments of influence. Saudi Arabia leveraged its vast resources with multi-billion-dollar aid packages to create structural dependencies in Egypt. Turkey, whose economic influence had expanded during Morsi's tenure, saw it drastically diminish after 2013. This economic rivalry reflected and reinforced the political split.
 
Conclusion
The study confirms that the Turkey-Saudi rivalry in Egypt is a complex, multi-level contest intricately sustained by geopolitical rivalry, ideological divergence, and economic competition. It is not merely a classic power struggle but a profound contest over identity, regional order, and political legitimacy. This competition has acted as a major destabilizing force, polarizing Egyptian politics, reshaping regional alliances, and creating a more volatile map. The underlying structural and ideological drivers remain potent and will continue to influence the Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape for the foreseeable future, making their understanding crucial for policymakers and scholars.
Keywords
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Regional Rivalry
Conflict of Interests
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