Erdogan is asking On whose orders was the team in Turkey? Why was the consulate not opened to investigators immediately? Why were so many different statements given by Saudis? Who is the local collaborator who disposed of Khashoggi’s body, and where is the body? KSA must answer all these questions.
the Saudis are desperate to avoid Erdogan’s publication of evidence that would point to bin Salman’s culpability. Erdogan may not have this evidence, but the Western intelligence community does. And we should note that Erdogan chose his words very deliberately on Tuesday when he demanded Turkey identify everyone involved in Khashoggi’s killing. This complement, Erdogan said, had to include the “one giving the order to the one who carried it out....”
Erdogan knows that he must strike a balanced line with the Saudis. Riyadh is already furious with Erdogan for what it regards as his excessive support for Islamist movements beyond Saudi control. But with the Turkish economy struggling, Erdogan has little appetite for punitive Saudi economic measures. For the Turkish leader, then, the great balancing act is extracting maximum concessions from Saudi Arabia, bringing significant negative attention to Saudi Arabia, but also avoiding a complete diplomatic breach with Saudi Arabia. That’s why Erdogan is putting the ball in bin Salman’s court as to whether he wants to play hardball or not. Both sides, Erdogan ventures, will choose Erdogan’s blackmail choice.