sectarianism in Turkish foreign policy

"Another example of this ideological foreign policy was when Erdogan said a few days ago, “They ask me why I care about Syria so much. My answer is simple. It is that we are the remnants of the Ottoman states, the descendants of the Seljuks, and the descendants of the Ottomans.” But what does being a descendant of the Ottomans and the Seljuks have to do with caring about Syria or Iraq or Iran or other countries and issues?" (thanks Amir)