土耳其总统前往非洲努力扩大其影响力

Turkish President Goes to Africa in Latest Effort to Expand Influence

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on a five-day trip to Northern and Western Africa.

The trip will take him to four countries: Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, and Mali.

His visit is the latest effort by Turkey to project its influence across the continent and strengthen its presence worldwide.

Since 2005, as then-prime minister, Erdogan has been working to deepen ties with Africa.

Emre Caliskan is with the Department of Politics and International Relations at Oxford¹ University in Britain. He says Erdogan has been to Africa 12 times since becoming president in 2009. He notes his trips had several objectives, such as economic growth, expanding Turkey’s influence in the world and the use of Islam.

Earlier this month, Turkey welcomed a group of African ministers for a week of meetings. Such gatherings² are part of a Turkish effort to improve contacts with African leaders.

Over the past 10 years, Turkey has tripled the number of embassies across Africa. Even with all the Turkish investments, the economic returns have been less than what the government expected. And that has led Turkey to reconsider its priorities, says Mehmet Arda. He studies Africa for the Istanbul-based public policy center Edam.

"When you look at the Turkish trade with Africa, it’s basically the same as it was about 10 years ago. So it is more a way of projecting itself as a power in the world. Moreover, Turkey puts itself as the friend, at least, of the countries which are left behind, the destitute³ and all that. So I think from that point of view, as well, it fits with that the model of Turkey projecting itself on the world stage."

?Islamic influence

In his recent visits to Africa, President Erdogan has added Islamic subjects to his message. His speeches have sometimes been colored with criticism of the West and talk of its colonial past. At one time, the Turkish Ottoman Empire also extended to Africa.

Caliskan says that appealing to African Muslims offers Turkey a chance for important diplomatic gains, as well as risks.

"Fifty percent of African countries come from Muslim backgrounds and this gives leverage⁴ for Turkey in the eyes of Europe, in the eyes of the West, and in the eyes of Africa.”

But he notes a competition among Islamic groups and countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Historically, he says, these nations are very influential⁵ among Africa’s Muslim communities. Caliskan describes Turkey as a new comer, and says the country wants to expand its influence.

Last September, Turkey opened its largest overseas military base in Somalia. Some observers say the opening of the base is a sign that Turkish officials have aspirations⁷ for the area.

The Turkish navy is expanding, with the government planning to build an aircraft carrier. Egypt has expressed concern about Turkey’s agreement with Sudan to redevelop the Sudanese island of Suakin. The island was once home to the Ottoman Empire’s main naval⁸ base. The Turkish government says it has no plans to develop Suakin for military purposes.

But Caliskan says such denials will do little to reduce tensions given the level of mistrust between Erdogan and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el Sissi.

Observers warn the competition in the Middle East is already spilling into Africa. They say this process is likely to continue because of Turkey’s growing commitment to the continent and its effort to become a global player.

I'm Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

triple – v. to make three times as big; to increase by 200 percent

priority – n. a goal; something that is more important than other things

destitute – adj. lacking possessions or what is needed

background – n. the ground that is behind an object

leverage – n. influence or effectiveness

aspiration⁶ – n. a strong desire to do something

commitment – n. an agreement or promise to do something

global – adj. of or involving the whole world

1 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

2 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

3 destitute   

adj.缺乏的；穷困的

参考例句：

• They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
• They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。

4 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

5 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

6 aspiration   

n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出

参考例句：

• Man's aspiration should be as lofty as the stars.人的志气应当象天上的星星那么高。
• Young Addison had a strong aspiration to be an inventor.年幼的爱迪生渴望成为一名发明家。

7 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

8 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。