https://arab.news/bbtt5
For much of the 20th century, Turkiye’s foreign policy was defined by its orientation toward the West, its role as a NATO ally and its strategic distance from the volatile dynamics of the Middle East. This focus can be traced back to the aftermath of the First World War, when Turkiye, having lost the war, chose to prioritize internal development. As a secular republic by design, Turkiye kept the region at arm’s length, focusing inward and consolidating its position as a bridge between East and West.
However, following the so-called Arab Spring, and particularly since 2022, Ankara has transformed into a potent military and diplomatic actor, reshaping itself as an indispensable Sunni middle power. From the battlefields of Syria to the Horn of Africa and the edges of the Sahel, Turkiye is actively asserting its influence, employing a blend of military intervention, strategic arms deals and diplomatic mediation.
But the real shift lies in Turkiye’s increased activity and its creation of an intricate influence network — one that makes regional crises impossible to navigate without its involvement.
The architecture of this strategy rests on three interlocking pillars. The first is operational. Turkiye has demonstrated a consistent willingness to use force or credible military pressure to shape political outcomes, most visibly in northern Syria and Libya.
