Qatari investments in Turkey: An urban legend

The sudden embargo on Qatar by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates perplexed us all this month. It was a half-baked regional response to the half-baked American ideas presented during President Donald Trump's recent visit. The tiny Qatar is probably going to resist a bit to preserve its dignity, but will eventually have to bow to the powers that be. The Turkish response to the crisis has been more clear-cut. Ankara stands by Qatar, its seemingly closest friend in the region; that much is clear. The motivations for that stance are more interesting. Why is Turkey so vocal on this point?

Turkish people are oblivious to the intricacies of Gulf politics, and our media was dumbstruck by news of the crisis. In a TV interview at the outset of the crisis, a citizen on the street was asked what Turkey needed to do in a situation like this. "Turkey needs to take the side of Muslims," he said, asking a question of his own "so Qatar or Saudi Arabia, which side is Muslim?" "Both," said the interviewer. "If both are Muslim," the guy continued, "which of them is Sunni, the Qataris or the Saudis?" "Both," replied the interviewer. "If both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are composed of Sunni Muslims," said the guy "which side has more money?" "Both have a lot of money," said the interviewer, adding "they are oil exporting [SIC] countries with a lot reserves." "In that case," said the guy, with a lightness of finally having understood the situation, "Turkey needs to bring Saudi Arabia and Qatar together and help them settle their differences. Turkey can turn this into an opportunity if it does not take sides." Not bad. Say what you will about the man, but Ankara could have benefitted from his thought process early on in the crisis. 

Turkey's reaction to the sudden...