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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TURKEY ITALY AFRICA
HEADLINE: Turkey, Italy Eye Cooperation in Bid for Influence in Africa
TEASER: Both countries see opportunities as French influence wanes
PUBLISHED AT: 02/29/2024 at 1:40PM
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: ISTANBUL
VIDEOGRAPHER: Agencies, Berke Bas DO NOT USE NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, Steve Hirsch
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, AFP, Reuters
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:03
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVR
UPDATE: DO NOT USE BERKE BAS NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS.))
((INTRO)) [[Turkey and Italy are seeking to expand their influence in Africa, economically and diplomatically. Analysts say both nations see opportunities as French influence on the continent declines, creating common ground for cooperation between Rome and Ankara. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.]]
((NARRATOR))
The Somali Parliament's ratification this month of an agreement with Turkey to provide naval protection and assistance in building a Somali navy is one in a series of steps in Turkey’s efforts to expand its African presence.
At the same, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni last month hosted African leaders for the unveiling of plans to expand Italian influence on the continent.
Analysts say Turkey and Italy see potential cooperation as a way to achieve their goals.
[[RADIO VERSION: Alessia Chiriatti is with IAI, or Institute of International Affairs, a think tank in Rome.]]
((Alessia Chiriatti - Institute of International Affairs (Female in English))
((VIA Zoom))
“Italy is trying to fulfill a position that the Western countries in some way left during the last decades, while Turkey has been already in Africa and in sub-Saharan Africa. The main issues for confrontation or cooperation we will see will be migration, energy
issues, and, of course, the economic development of these countries.”
((NARRATOR))
Meloni met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in January. Their talks on Africa focused on cooperation in Libya, where Turkey has considerable influence, including a military base. The North African country is a main transit route for migrants trying to enter Europe, mainly through Italy.
[[RADIO VERSION: Eylem Eyrice-Tepecikoglu of the African studies department of Ankara’s Social Sciences University:]]
((Eylem Eyrice-Tepecikoglu, Social Sciences University ((Female in English))
((Zoom))
“This is a huge threat for Italy, a huge threat for France because African countries use those Western African countries as a transit on their way to Europe. So, there is room to cooperate in this area and to prevent the illegal, the flow of illegal migrants and to cooperate in the security area as well.”
((NARRATOR))
The possibility of exploiting Libya's vast energy reserves also provides common ground between Rome and Ankara.
((NARRATOR))
Analysts say the recent ousting of governments sympathetic to France in Niger, Mali, and Gabon, and the withdrawal of French forces from parts of Africa have severely weakened France's longtime political and economic influence in the region, opening opportunities for Italy and Turkey.
[[RADIO VERSION: Eylem Eyrice-Tepecikoglu of Ankara’s Social Sciences University:]]
((Eylem Eyrice-Tepecikoglu. Social Sciences University - Female in English))
((VIA Zoom))
"There are several areas that Turkey can cooperate with other countries, including European countries, because, yes, we talk [about] Turkish companies trying to increase their investments. They would like to gain new contracts for large projects, etc. Africa is in desperate need [of] infrastructure. There's a huge energy deficit and infrastructure gap in the whole continent.”
((Reuters, NO ACCESS CHINA MAINLAND))
((NARRATOR))
Rome and Ankara lack the financial muscle of other powerful players in Africa such as China, but both Turkey and Italy have powerful incentives to focus on potential areas of cooperation in their bid to expand their influence on the continent.
((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
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