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First on Fox: A new report is raising concerns about Turkey’s role in the Middle East, arguing that under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the country has moved away from its traditional Western alliance and toward deeper engagement with Islamist movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies report, led by senior fellow Sinan Siddi and titled “Turkey’s Islamic Dominance: A Further Foundation for Muslim Brotherhood-Aligned Jihadism”, argues that Turkey’s ties to Hamas – the terrorist group designated by the US for the October 7 massacre – as well as the Muslim Brotherhood – an Islamic movement whose affiliates have recently been designated as terrorist organizations by the United States – are Turkey’s That puts its policies under fresh scrutiny as it prepares to host NATO. peak.
Siddi told Fox News Digital that the change reflects a broader change in the way Turkey defines threats.
“What we have is that Turkey has completely rewritten the rules of how to interpret a jihadist terrorist entity,” Siddi said. “Erdoğan has reinvented what he interpreted as a terrorist entity… Groups like Hamas or al-Nusra are more in line with his pan-Islamic view of the world.”
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) and then-Hamas Chairman Khaled Mashal (left) shake hands at the historic Maben Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, June 24, 2016. (Kayhan Ozer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Hamas presence is a matter of investigation
The main focus of the report is Turkey’s relationship with Hamas, which the United States designates as a terrorist organization, and yet Hamas expanded its presence in Turkey after 2011, setting up offices and networks inside the country.
“Since 2011…Hamas has used this opportunity to establish offices with a friendly government inside Turkey, recruiting (and) raising funds,” Siddi said.
US authorities have taken action against some of those networks. Siddi said the Treasury Department has designated individuals and entities associated with Hamas operating in Türkiye, underscoring long-standing concerns.
“The United States Treasury is tracking and designating Hamas-linked NGOs and individuals inside Türkiye,” he said.
The report also alleges that some Hamas activists have been able to travel using Turkish-issued documents and that senior individuals have been publicly welcomed by Erdoğan.
Beyond Hamas, the report described Turkey as a hub for Muslim Brotherhood figures from across the region, including Egypt and Yemen, many of whom relocated there following crackdowns in their home countries.
In some parts of the Arab world, the Muslim Brotherhood has been banned or restricted for years.
Egypt outlawed the movement in 2013, accusing it of inciting unrest and undermining state institutions. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates later declared it a terrorist organization, citing it as a threat to national stability, while Bahrain also took a similar stance.
Jordan disbanded its local branch this year after authorities said the arrests were linked to illegal weapons activity.
Some European countries have also taken steps to target networks linked to the movement.
For example, Austria has taken legal action against individuals and organizations associated with Brotherhood-related activity as part of its counter-extremism policies.
Officials in these countries have argued that the Brotherhood works through a mix of religious outreach, political activism, charitable organizations, and media platforms to influence public opinion and challenge state authority.
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People protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza during a protest rally in Istanbul, Turkey, February 17, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (Khalil Hamra/The Associated Press)
Syria policy and sanctions questions
The report also examines Turkey’s role in Syria, where the country supported opposition forces during the civil war, supporting several armed factions, including groups that later formed the Syrian National Army.
He said, “The Syrian National Army … was a group of militias that Turkey directly armed, paid and organized.”
The report linked Turkey’s support to groups such as al-Nusra and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, raising questions among analysts whether such ties could expose Turkish officials to potential sanctions under US law.
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US President Donald Trump (right) delivers remarks during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office of the White House on September 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
A balancing act with Washington
Despite these concerns, other analysts say Turkey’s relations with the United States are acting as a hindrance to its behavior, while relations between Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have been characterized by renewed trust, with Trump praising Erdoğan’s role in Gaza diplomacy.
When Trump celebrated the Gaza ceasefire agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in October 2025, he singled out one leader for extraordinary praise – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose leadership he credited with helping bring about the Gaza ceasefire.
At the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in October 2025, Trump said of Erdoğan, “A guy who’s been a friend of mine for a long time. I don’t know why I like the tough guys better than the soft, easy-going guys.”
Turkish politician and academic Hisciyar Ozsoy described relations between Erdoğan and Trump as “transactional”, noting that Washington often relies on Turkey for regional coordination.
In a policy webinar organized by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, Turkish academic Hüseyin Bağı emphasized that Ankara is closely tied to Washington.
He said, “The Turkish state has no interest in fighting with Israel because the Turkish government has very good relations with the United States.” “You can’t be good with America and then get into conflict with Israel.”
Bassi also suggested that Turkey has at times limited Islamist actors domestically.
He asked, “Have you heard anything about the Muslim Brotherhood today?” “No… because the President said wait.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, left, shakes hands with Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg looks on before a meeting ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday, July 10, 2023. (Yves Herman, Pool Photo via AP)
NATO allies under pressure
Türkiye, a NATO member since 1952, remains a major partner for the United States, providing logistics access, military capabilities, and diplomatic outreach.
But Siddi argued that Türkiye’s current trajectory is increasingly diverging from the alliance’s priorities.
“There is an established track record … where Türkiye significantly undermines the core security concerns of the transatlantic alliance,” he said.
He pointed to US sanctions on Turkish entities accused of supplying dual-use goods to Russia, as well as Ankara’s broader strategy of maintaining ties with competing powers.
Iran and regional situation
As far as Turkey’s position amid tensions with Iran is concerned, Siddi said Turkey is likely to favor a weakened Iranian regime rather than a complete collapse that could lead to the creation of a more pro-West government.
“A weak Iranian regime is Erdoğan’s safest bet,” he said.
Bassey offered a similar assessment of the rivalry.
“Iran is not Türkiye’s enemy, but not necessarily its best friend. Türkiye and Iran are two regional competitors,” he said.
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In this May 30, 2015 file photo, supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Ahmet Davutoglu, some holding Turkish flags, await his appearance in Istanbul during a rally to commemorate the anniversary of the city’s conquest by the Ottoman Turks. As extremist violence and political uncertainty cast a shadow over Türkiye, voters are hoping for parliamentary elections to bring stability. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis File) (The Associated Press)
looking ahead
The report recommends possible US policy responses, including sanctions and increased scrutiny of Turkey’s financial system, steps that could reshape relations between Washington and Ankara.
Fox News Digital contacted the Turkish government and State Department multiple times for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
