2003 US Invasion of Iraq: Watershed in the Middle East The American invasion of Iraq in 2003 and its consequences were a milestone in the politics of the country and the region. The downfall of Saddam's Baathist regime triggered an internal transformation in the Gulf sub-complex354 and affected wide-ranging changes to the strategic landscape of the region, shifting the regional balance of power. The invasion became one of the most difficult challenges that Turkey and Saudi Arabia faced in the twenty-first century and its aftermath created new conflicts and alliances.

In January 2003, Turkey organized a meeting of six Middle Eastern foreign ministers and invited delegations from Iran, Syria, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, which was represented by Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal. In the summit, which was held in İstanbul's Çırağan Palace, ministers called for peaceful solution to the crisis with Saddam's Iraq. Upon mutual concerns of Ankara and Riyadh about the US invasion of Iraq, then Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gül visited Saudi Arabia in January 2003 and met with then Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah to create a common stance among the regional countries about the crisis. Turkey, which urged Saddam to comply with the UN decisions, was opposed to the war from the very beginning. Therefore, on March 1, 2003, the Turkish Grand National Assembly decided not to support the US-led war against Iraq and refused to give permission to American troops for the use of its northern territory in the war. The decision was one of the key developments that showed the change in Turkish foreign policy toward the Middle East. Ankara's move served to boost Turkey's prestige in the Middle East. A Turkish stance free from American influence created a positive approach toward Turkey in the Arab world. As Altunışık puts it, “this decision challenged the long-held view of Turkey as a “stooge of the US” in the Arab world and increased Turkey's credibility in the region.” Despite suffering economically, Turkey turned down an American aid package of $6 billion in direct grants and up to $20 billion in loan guarantees offered for Turkey's support for the war against Iraq.