Ankara – UNS: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pursuing an ambitious strategy to reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, positioning Turkey as a central player in regional energy, trade, and diplomacy.
According to a report published by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, Ankara is gradually redefining its sphere of influence through economic partnerships and regional cooperation, while presenting itself as a force for stability and development.
The report highlighted several key elements of Turkey’s alleged strategy:
– Redrawing the Regional Map: President Erdogan is seeking to expand Turkey’s influence across the Middle East through economic and strategic initiatives.
– Greater Role in Iraq and Syria: Following the upcoming NATO summit, Ankara is expected to intensify its engagement in Iraq and Syria, aiming to secure long-term strategic interests.
– A Shift in Turkish Policy: Rather than relying solely on traditional tools of influence, Turkey is increasingly emphasizing economic partnerships, infrastructure projects, and regional alliances.
– Cooperation in Syria: The report pointed to Ankara’s support for cooperation between the Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa and Kurdish factions as part of a broader effort to stabilize northern Syria.
– The Development Road Project: Turkey reportedly aims to transform Iraq’s Development Road Project into a major regional corridor for energy pipelines, telecommunications, and international trade.
The report also noted that regional tensions have affected Turkish ambitions in Lebanon. Ankara had hoped to extend its proposed “North-South Axis” to include Beirut and Tripoli, but Israeli military activities along the Lebanese-Syrian border have reportedly forced Turkey to delay its plans.
According to Maariv, Turkey’s initiatives may appear to be conventional development projects centered on ports, railways, and energy infrastructure. However, the newspaper argues that they represent a far-reaching political strategy designed to establish Ankara as an indispensable regional mediator and a global hub for energy and commerce.
The report concludes that if Turkey succeeds in implementing this strategy, the Middle East of the next decade could look dramatically different from today, potentially limiting Israel’s ability to shape the regional order unilaterally and cementing Turkey’s status as one of the region’s most influential powers.
