The leader and spiritual guide of the Turkic world, determined to become an ambitious great power

The rise of Neo-Ottomanism

In the last few decades, Turkey's strategic environment has undergone earth-shattering changes. Major events include the 2003 invasion of Iraq by Britain and the United States, NATO's failed military intervention in Afghanistan, the destructive shockwaves of the "Arab Spring," conflicts in Syria and Yemen, Egypt's full-scale revolution, the revival of radical Islamism, and Russia's efforts to reassert its sovereignty in the Middle East.

Turkey's status as a great power has been increasingly declining. The tensions between Sunni and Shia factions across the entire Middle East have intensified, unrest and "color revolutions" in some post-Soviet states, Iran's active pursuit of regional hegemony, Tehran's continuous advancement of its nuclear weapons program, the growing imbalance within the EU, the increasing partnerships between Israel and Gulf oil hegemonic countries to counter Iran's influence, Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, and the escalation of economic warfare to unprecedented levels.

As a result, Turkey has become increasingly assertive in response to these challenges and also to seize opportunities from the chaos. This attitude is reflected in:

¬ Ankara's diplomatic support for Kosovo's independence from Serbia;

¬ Turkish troops intervening in battlefields such as Syria and Iraq, mainly to combat Kurdish militias;

¬ Public manipulation of Turkish expatriates in places like Germany to influence nominal sovereign decisions related to foreign policy and domestic politics according to Ankara's national interests;

¬ Using waves of migrants as a weapon to coerce and extort EU member states;

¬ Turkey supporting Sunni militias, jihadists, and mercenaries as proxies and cannon fodder to advance its regional agenda and attack opponents;

¬ Adopting an adversarial stance towards the Assad regime and maintaining intermittent tense relations with traditional allies such as Greece and even Israel;

¬ As an active supporter of Azerbaijan, Turkey provoked the 2000 Nagorno-Karabakh War to enhance Ankara's influence in the Caucasus region and position itself as the natural leader of the broader Turkic world;

Turkey repatriated its gold reserves previously stored in the United States, indicating that Turkey's trust in Washington is weakening.

These bold actions – which completely overturned the previous strategy of "zero problems" with neighboring countries – are inconsistent with the image of a nation-state aiming to maintain the status quo. Instead, they reflect a revisionist mindset. In fact, it is well known that senior Turkish officials such as Ahmet Davutoğlu – based on their study of classic geopolitical literature such as Friedrich Ratzel and General Karl Haushofer – have shaped Ankara's foreign policy according to expansionist geopolitical agendas. These plans include seeking regional hegemony, expanding Turkey's sphere of survival in its surrounding regions, and establishing spheres of influence in the Balkans, the Middle East, the Caucasus region, and even the Central Asian steppe regions of the greater Turkic world. Ankara's steady advancement of diplomatic relations with Latin America through trade partnerships and showcasing Turkey's "soft power" is also worth noting.

In summary, we can reasonably assert that the international system is witnessing the rebirth of the traditional Ottoman Empire and using it as a thought compass for Turkey's grand strategy in the 21st century.

Source: Geopolitical Observer

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831063999345739/

Disclaimer: The article solely represents the views of the author.