How Turkey came to position itself as a dominant power in the Middle East
The outbreak of war across the Middle East following Oct. 7, 2023, has drawn in the three major power blocs of the region — Israel, the Gulf countries, and Iran — but the fourth, Turkey, has stood back and bided its time.
TL;DR
- Turkey has largely remained neutral in the recent Middle East conflicts since Oct. 7, 2023.
- The country has actively reshaped its foreign policy to become a great regional power.
- Turkey has leveraged its strong military, defense industry, and soft power to influence the region.
- President Erdogan allegedly intervened to prevent a Kurdish force from entering Iran.
- Turkey's resurgence in the Middle East mirrors the influence of the former Ottoman Empire.