By: Shreya Dabral, Research Analyst, GSDN

Turkey is considered as a strong nation when we hear about global geopolitics. Well, the significance arises from the nation’s location that forms the bridges between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Turkey possesses a strong control on Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits that create a link between the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea on to the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Turkey is being governed under the Montreux Convention (1936) and it continues to regulate the passage of civilian and the military vessels, providing a strong impact over the naval access to and from the Black Sea. The control over the two straits is considered necessary for regional and global maritime trade and also for maintaining tight securities.

Turkey is Russia’s second huge trading partner, Ankara is reportedly known to continue relying on Russian gas and banking networks, clearly making it a US$ 60 billion in trade with Moscow annually. Turkey has been seen improving its relationships with Russia since 1995 when the former nation stopped supporting the Kurdish Workers Party that simultaneously made Turkey stop supporting Chechen rebels. Turkey has expressed criticism over Russia’s plan to establish the military bases in Syria, particularly in Tartus and Khmeimim. Moreover, Turkey still continues to control the airspace in the northern parts of Syria, it still retains the strategic upper hand to limit Russian’s access in the region.

Guardians of the Black Sea and the Bride of the Sea.

Turkey possesses the longest stretch of coastline along the Black Sea among all bordering nations and maintains one of the region’s most advanced and capable naval forces. Its location allows Turkey to position itself in the whole Black Sea region, the Caucasus, the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean. Being a country in possession of a coastline but also a capable navy (one of the only capable navies in the region), they will act as one of the key regional actors in deterring Russian expansion while also being a party to the West.

Turkey is a founding member of NATO’s southern flank and it hosts key military infrastructure with NATO as it also hosts air domination assets and can also provide and provide assessment – the Turkish military is NATO’s second-largest in terms of troop strength. Turkey has been an important regional alliance in intelligence collection and sharing, counter-terrorism operations and stabilization operations.

Blending East and West

Turkey’s foreign policy has taken on one of the most unique activities of any state, and that has been hedging alliances between the West and non-Western states. Turkey is a NATO Ally and is trying to become a member of the European Union, and has continued military cooperation with the West against traditional enemies. However, Turkey has also established strategic relationships with non-Western states like Russia, Iran, and China.   The drive to balance the United States and NATO, on the one hand, and the East on the other, is demonstrated in Turkey’s arms procurements where Turkey acquired Russian S-400 missile defense systems. This procurement was a bold step and increased tension with Washington while at the same time displaying Turkey’s desire to assert its right to maintain sovereign defense choices. Turkey’s commitment to both the Western military coalitions and the East allowed it emerge in previous years as a middle power state in the diplomatic world capable of playing multiple roles and loitering across different diplomatic spaces.

Turkey has been increasingly engaged as a regional peacemaker.

 Turkey has brought parties to the table in discussions between Russia and Ukraine over the last couple of years, held a number of talks at the leadership level, and agreed on most notably, what would happen with grain exported from Ukraine through the Black Sea. All these are significant actions that contributed to prevention of food shortages in the world, especially in the developing world that relies heavily on Ukrainian food products.

With regards to the Syrian civil war, Turkey comprised a host of multiple roles – as a military actor, space for hosting refugees, diplomatic mediation role and humanitarian response. Turkey has done military operations in Syria to eliminate threats to its own borders; it has also held peace negotiations between warring factions in Syria. Turkey’s engagement has included similar mediation roles in the conflicts arising from Libya, the South Caucasus, the Gulf.

Turkey’s actions in these areas have elevated its profile in the international arena, and done so while acting as an independent actor with its own regional objectives.

Energy Transit Centre of the Region

Turkey has become an energy corridor linking producers to the Middle East, Central Asia, and Russia, to European consumers. Pipelines such as the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Southern Gas Corridor traverse Turkish territory, providing Europe energy alternatives that are not Russian.

Moreover, Turkey serves as the end point for several oil and gas pipelines from Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Iran. Turkey is also a central point for liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals and future hydrogen transmission routes. With Europe pursing diversifying away from Russian energy, Turkey’s capacity to be a stable transit country becomes particularly salient.

In addition to transit, Turkey is investing in domestic energy supplies such as nuclear and renewables, and with international partnerships Turkey is able to develop its capacity and resiliency to energy infrastructure.

Economic Power and Regional Influence

Turkey is one of the top 20 economies globally but has seen ups and downs in its economic growth. Turkey still remains a global trade participant, representing both developed and emerging economies.

Turkey’s economy has engaged with countries in a wide spectrum; from engagements with the European Union and Gulf states to economic deals with China and Russia. Turkey has also deepened ties with African states through infrastructure projects, trade missions, and defense agreements. This economic diplomacy advances its geopolitical objectives and, in its effort, to expand its sphere of influence.

Relative to some of the challenges Turkey has faced in recent years, for example, inflation rates, currency devaluation and external debt, Turkey articulates its role as a bridge linking East and West; through providing investment opportunities, transport connectivity and manufacturing opportunities.

Military Strength and Technological Development

Turkey’s defense and domestic defense industry are undergoing a serious modernization effort, and is now situated as one of the few countries in the world designing and manufacturing sophisticated drones, warships, and missile systems with combat experience.  Turkish-made drones were used extensively and effectively in each conflict in Syria, Libya, and Ukraine.

The development of indigenous defense technology will increase Turkey’s strategic autonomy and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Furthermore, it enables Ankara to engage in defense diplomacy through arms exports and exports to strengthen its relationships with allies and partners throughout Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Turkey has made tremendous advances on the maritime front to increase its naval capabilities and expand areas of operation in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. The “Blue Homeland” doctrine reflects Turkey’s willingness to project power in its maritime zones and, importantly, to protect its energy and security interests.

Diplomatic Aspirations and Global Autonomy

Turkey’s foreign policy is becoming characterized increasingly by a doctrine of strategic autonomy—putting national interests first, irrespective of bloc politics. It wants to be a significant player, not just regionally but globally.

Turkey calls for reform to international institutions, specifically the United Nations Security Council, indicating that no single bloc or group should dominate global governance. It is taking an active role in multilateral forums such as the G20, OECD, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Developing 8.

Turkey is also assertively trying to move away visually from being a peripheral NATO ally toward being a central diplomatic power which can manage both regional crises and global issues, through summits, bilateral engagements, and humanitarian efforts.

Domestic Politics and the International Complications

The internal political trends of the past decade in Turkey have considerable ramifications in the international arena. The past decade has seen the consolidation of executive authority, restrictions on freer expression, and a continued tension between democratic economic side and executive authority that intends to concentrate power. These issues have raised alarm for many of Turkey’s Western partners and have called into question its more legitimate democratic credentials, but more importantly, its relevant geopolitical value very often overshadows these domestic issues. Most Western states remain willing to engage Turkey in bilateral arrangements based on Turkey’s functional role in managing migration, counterterrorism, and security strategy in the region. However, the fact that domestic governance should remain important in any long-term relationship is lost if there are no parallel attention to governance issues along with strategic engagements.

Turkey’s elections, legal reforms, and civil social movements are monitored closely by international observers and a concern for domestic stability should be paramount for Turkey’s continued regional leadership.

Expanding Footprint in Africa, Central Asia, and the Caucasus

Turkey is extending its geopolitical reach into regions beyond its traditional sphere. In Africa, it has opened over 40 embassies, launched numerous infrastructure and development projects, and secured defense cooperation agreements with multiple states. Its visibility in Africa reflects both humanitarian interests and competition with other powers such as China, Russia, and the Gulf.

In the Caucasus, Turkey played a decisive role during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war by backing Azerbaijan militarily and diplomatically. The outcome enhanced Turkey’s leverage in the region and enabled it to promote new trade corridors linking the Caspian to Europe.

In Central Asia, Turkey’s cultural and linguistic ties have been utilized to foster deeper engagement through organizations like the Organization of Turkic States. This outreach diversifies Turkey’s partnerships and aligns with its broader goal of strategic diversification.

 In conclusion Turkey is a prominent player in global geopolitics because it serves as a bridge, a buffer, and a centre for power. Turkey’s influence is not limited to its immediate geography but spans across continents and issue spaces—from maritime security and energy, conflict resolution and economic diplomacy.

Turkey is one contender amongst several, but what stands out is its ability to balance relationships with both the West and East, to mediate in conflicts, to secure vital energy corridors and to sustain military strength as needed. This makes Turkey one of the most essential players in the international system regardless of its domestic political challenges.

As global fault lines shift and new power centres emerge, Turkey’s role in the geopolitical equation becomes more daunting—whether it is as a partner at the peace table, a counterweight in the region, or a military strategic balancing act amongst rivals.