What Turkey looks to gain in wake of Saudi journalist Khashoggi's murder

President Erdoğan is using the Khashoggi incident to gain closer relations with the US and push Turkey's interests

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan initially referred to the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on October 2 as “very, very upsetting”. Three weeks later, he told the Turkish parliament that Khashoggi was killed in a premeditated and savage murder. Saudi Arabia has belatedly admitted that Khashoggi was murdered at its consulate in Istanbul, but has blamed a “rogue operation” and denied the involvement of the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.

Khashoggi’s elimination on Turkish soil was a political trigger that may provide Erdoğan with ammunition against Saudi Arabia