AHC: The Ottoman Empire joins the Entente

What it says on the tin. Create a scenario in which the Ottoman Empire somehow joins the Entente before World War I. Make it as plausible as possible.
 
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Oil did it.

(back of a cigarette package idea here - so be gentle)

The British start slightly earlier on finding oil in the region (as well as what is Saudi Arabia) and work closely with the Ottomans

This by 1914 brings much needed monies into the Ottoman Empire and gives the British more influence and a better supply of Oil

So much so that the '8' Revenge class battleships are follow on Queen Elizabeth class ships with many of the flaws ironed out (OTL they were effectively a follow on from the Iron Duke class)

This results in the Ottomans being a Friend to the Entente
 
Difficult. The French wanted Syria, the Russians wanted Constantinople and the British wanted Mesopotamia (some duffers in the India Office hoped to make Iraq a province of the Raj!). Furthermore, by 1914 the Ottomans were heavily drawn to the German sphere with the Berlin to Baghdad Railway.

Best bet would probably for the Ottomans to stay neutral.
 
Abdul hamid remains sultan he was pro british, stopping young turks revolution will help this keep the ottomans more pro british. So have his counter coup be successful of 1909.
 
Difficult. The French wanted Syria, the Russians wanted Constantinople and the British wanted Mesopotamia (some duffers in the India Office hoped to make Iraq a province of the Raj!). Furthermore, by 1914 the Ottomans were heavily drawn to the German sphere with the Berlin to Baghdad Railway.

Best bet would probably for the Ottomans to stay neutral.

I pretty much agree with you

Staying Neutral would be about as good as being with the Entente for all intents and purposes

Dardanelles open for trade (Russia relied on this trade route for most of her exports and imports)

At least .5 million men not tied down fighting them if not twice that

Plus no 'vacuum' left in the middle east for France and Britain to badly fill

So a neutral Ottoman Empire is still a massive advantage for the Entente
 
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