Azernews.Az

ANKARA – Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will press Turkey's ambitions to become a leading political power in the Muslim world this week in trips to Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, three arenas in a wave of popular revolts that have reshaped the region, Reuters reported.

Erdogan's "Arab Spring tour" comes against a backdrop of escalating tensions with former friend Israel over the killing of nine Turkish activists last year -- a standoff that has strengthened support for Ankara in large parts of North Africa and the Middle East.

Arab countries, in the throes of popular uprisings, have watched the economic growth and influence of Turkey's secular democracy with a mixture of fascination and trepidation.

Under Erdogan's AK Party, rooted in political Islam, Turkey has boosted political and commercial ties with a region the country ruled under the Ottoman empire.

Last week, Erdogan threatened to back up his growing diplomatic clout with military action by saying he would dispatch the navy to protect flotillas against Israeli patrols -- an announcement analysts said could also alarm Arab powers.

The Arab revolts have forced Turkey to rethink its foreign policy, particularly in Syria, where former ally President Bashar al-Assad has defied Ankara's calls to end a bloody crackdown on protesters, and in Libya, where Turkey had billion-dollar investments before Muammar Gaddafi was ousted.

Besides seeking closer economic and military ties with the new rulers of regional heavyweight Egypt and oil-rich Libya, analysts say Erdogan will use his Sept 12-15 trip to cast himself as the champion of the Muslim world.

Erdogan is expected to give a speech on Monday at Cairo University, where his aides say he will set out Turkey's vision for the region.