In early 2026, the former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett labeled Turkey as a "new threat" to Israel, placing it alongside Iran in terms of regional hostility. Bennett warned that Israel must act against the growing threat from Ankara.

Now a new report is raising concerns about Turkey’s role in the Middle East, arguing that under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the country has moved away from its traditional Western alignment and toward deeper engagement with Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood.

The news is from Fox News. The last Foundation for Defense of Democracies report titled "Islamist Domination of Turkey: A Forward Base for Muslim Brotherhood-Aligned Jihadism," argues that Turkey has ties with Hamas - the U.S. designated terrorist group responsible for the Oct. 7 massacre — as well as to the Muslim Brotherhood — an Islamist movement whose affiliates have recently been designated as terrorist organizations by the Trump administration — placing Turkey’s policies under renewed scrutiny.

The report describes Turkey as a hub for Muslim Brotherhood figures from across the region, including Egypt and Yemen, many of whom relocated there following crackdowns in their home countries. It links Turkish support to groups such as al-Nusra and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, raising questions among analysts about whether such ties could expose Turkish officials to potential sanctions under U.S. law. Even the Syrian National Army was a hodgepodge collection of militias that Turkey directly armed, paid and organized.

Muslim Brotherhood in Europe

The Muslim Brotherhood is frequently accused by various governments of aiming to establish a global Islamic caliphate governed by Sharia law. While the group has often officially advocated for non-violent, incremental change, this long-term goal is seen by detractors as an insidious attempt to "Islamize" the world, beginning with individual transformation and leading to the eventual dismantling of secular states.

In Europe, only Austria has pursued legal action against individuals and organizations it says are connected to Brotherhood-linked activity as part of its counter-extremism policies. Officials have argued that the Brotherhood operates through a mix of religious outreach, political activism, charitable organizations and media platforms to influence public opinion and challenge state authority.

In the meantime, across the US, China, Russia, India - the superpowers in the current time - and large parts of the Arab world, the Muslim Brotherhood has been banned or restricted for years. Egypt outlawed the movement in 2013, accusing it of inciting unrest and undermining state institutions. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates later designated it a terrorist organization, describing it as a threat to national stability, while Bahrain adopted a similar stance. Jordan dissolved its local chapter this year following arrests authorities said were linked to illicit weapons and drugs activity.