When Realpolitik Meets the Red Carpet: Everyone Loves a Dictator, Eventually
CASE A: The New Arab Takes a Bow to Pragmatism The New Arab frames Erdoğan's rapprochement with Riyadh and Cairo as a natural evolution, a necessary step for "regional stability" and "economic cooperation." The article highlights Turkey's economic woes, suggesting a desperate need for Gulf investment, and mentions "shared security concerns" as a unifying factor. The narrative is one of mature
states overcoming past differences for mutual benefit, implying a sophisticated, strategic move. Sample framing: "The visits are set to solidify improved relations that have been ongoing for a few years." It focuses on the benefits of "stronger economic ties" and "political alignment," essentially sanitizing the underlying political gymnastics. CASE B: The Forgotten History of Moral Outrage
Curiously, the memory of mainstream coverage seems remarkably selective. Let's rewind to the 2018 assassination of Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Erdoğan himself was a vocal, almost theatrical, critic of MBS, providing evidence to Turkish media (October 2018) that fueled international outrage. He openly accused Riyadh of "political murder" and demanded accountability.
Similarly, after the 2013 military coup in Egypt that ousted Mohamed Morsi, Erdoğan condemned General Sisi's actions as "illegitimate" and refused to acknowledge his presidency for years (August 2013). Back then, the framing was starkly different. Erdoğan was the defender of democratic principles and human rights, at least ostensibly. The language used by many Western and regional outlets mirrored