TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: AN ANALYTICAL OVERVIEW
Journal Title: MediTerra – Mediterranean Social Studies Journal - Year 2025, Vol 2, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper provides an in-depth exploration of Türkiye’s evolving foreign policy in the Mediterranean, with a focus on the historical, domestic, and geopolitical factors that shape its regional strategy. Eurasian country’s approach, anchored in the “Blue Homeland” doctrine, reflects an assertive stance on maritime claims and a drive to assert sovereignty over critical sea routes and resources. This approach is largely influenced by rising nationalism, economic imperatives, and the strategic goal of securing energy independence in the face of regional competition. The study examines Ankara's complex interactions with key Mediterranean neighbours, including Greece, Egypt, and Israel, alongside its relationships with multilateral entities like NATO and the European Union. By analysing both bilateral and multilateral engagements, the paper highlights the ways in which domestic political dynamics—such as economic pressures and public opinion—intersect with global forces to impact Türkiye’s Mediterranean strategy. The analysis also emphasizes the influence of geopolitical rivalries and Türkiye’s balancing act between Western alliances and its partnerships with non Western powers, notably Russia. The paper concludes by assessing possible future directions for Türkiye’s Mediterranean policy considering regional diplomacy, evolving economic priorities, and shifting roles of global powers. This examination offers valuable insights into the complexities of Türkiye’s Mediterranean ambitions, suggesting that a balanced approach, one that combines assertiveness with diplomacy, may provide the most sustainable path forward. Such a strategy would enable Türkiye to safeguard its interests while minimizing the risk of alienating key regional and global allies.
Authors and Affiliations
E. Nur SEZEK & Maria Fernanda SANZON-MAYA
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP761835
- DOI -
- Views 19
- Downloads 0
Avrupa Birliği’nin Tunus’a Yönelik Demokrasi Teşviki Politikalarının Değerlendirilmesi
This article discusses the European Union’s (EU) democracy promotion in the case of Tunisia, focusing on the evolution of its policies pre- and post-Jasmine Revolution. It aims to analyze the EU’s institutional polic...
AKDENİZ’DE GÖÇ: FRANSA’DAKİ KUZEY AFRİKA KÖKENLİ GÖÇMENLERİN İŞGÜCÜ PİYASASINDA KARŞILAŞTIĞI SORUNLAR
This study addresses the problems that immigrants of North African origin encounter in the French labor market. Document analysis, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the study and the analysis was c...
Big Data Analytics in Public Administration for Tourism: A Preliminary Study for Türkiye
ract This preliminary study explores the use of Big Data analytics in the public administration of Türkiye's tourism sector, focusing on the extraction and analysis of visitor reviews from the TripAdvisor platform. T...
COMPTE RENDU DE CONFERENCE* Colloque International « Territoires et Action Publique »
La présentation de Mehmet H. BAYRAM, Professeur de droit public à l'université d’Akdeniz, était intitulé « La Surveillance des Frontières Extérieures de l’Union Européenne ». Les frontières extérieures de l’Union eur...
Türkiye’nin Akdeniza Havzasındaki Gelişmekte Olan Ülkelere Karşı Rekabet Gücü Üzerine Bir Araştırma
The aim of this study is to observe Türkiye’s competitive advantages in its trade with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, and Tunisia, which are developing countries in the Mediterranean Basin and with which Tür...