Türkiye and Middle Eastern Geopolitics

Introduction

Türkiye occupies a distinctive position in Middle Eastern geopolitics because it connects Europe, the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Black Sea.

Its geographical position, NATO membership, military capabilities, economy, historical connections and diplomatic relationships give it influence across several strategic regions.

Türkiye’s foreign policy combines relationships with Western institutions and engagement with Russia, Iran, Arab states and other regional actors.

Strategic Geography

Türkiye is located at the intersection of:

• Europe
• Middle East
• Caucasus
• Black Sea
• Eastern Mediterranean
• Central Asia

This geography gives Türkiye strategic relevance beyond the Middle East itself.

Turkish Straits

The Turkish Straits consist primarily of:

• Bosporus
• Sea of Marmara
• Dardanelles

They connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranean.

The Straits are strategically important for:

• maritime trade
• energy transportation
• naval movement
• Black Sea security

Montreux Convention

The Montreux Convention of 1936 regulates navigation through the Turkish Straits.

It establishes different rules for merchant vessels and warships and provides Türkiye with an important legal and strategic role in Black Sea maritime security.

NATO Membership

Türkiye joined NATO in 1952.

Its NATO membership gives it a role in:

• European security
• Black Sea security
• Mediterranean security
• Middle Eastern security

Türkiye’s geographical position also makes it an important link between NATO’s European members and neighbouring regions.

Strategic Autonomy

Strategic autonomy refers to the ability of a state to pursue national interests without excessive dependence on a single external power.

Türkiye has sought to maintain relationships with:

• United States
• European Union
• Russia
• Iran
• Gulf states
• Central Asian states

This multi-directional diplomacy provides strategic flexibility.

Türkiye and the Middle East

Türkiye’s Middle Eastern interests include:

• Syria
• Iraq
• Iran
• Gulf states
• Israel
• Palestine
• Eastern Mediterranean

Its regional policy has been influenced by:

• border security
• terrorism
• refugees
• trade
• energy
• regional influence
• security partnerships

Syria

Syria has been one of the most important issues in Turkish foreign policy.

Türkiye’s concerns include:

• border security
• Kurdish armed groups
• refugees
• terrorism
• political stability
• regional influence

The Syrian conflict has therefore directly connected Türkiye’s domestic and foreign security concerns.

Iraq

Türkiye has important interests in northern Iraq.

These include:

• border security
• energy
• trade
• infrastructure
• Kurdish political developments
• counterterrorism

The geography of northern Iraq makes it strategically important for Türkiye.

Türkiye and Iran

Türkiye and Iran are regional competitors in some areas but also cooperate in others.

Areas of interaction include:

• trade
• energy
• border security
• Syria
• regional diplomacy

Their relationship illustrates competitive cooperation, in which states compete over influence while maintaining practical cooperation in selected areas.

Türkiye and Gulf States

Türkiye maintains relationships with:

• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Bahrain

Economic ties have become particularly important.

They include:

• investment
• trade
• defence cooperation
• infrastructure
• tourism
• finance

Türkiye-Qatar Relations

Türkiye and Qatar have developed particularly close political and economic relations.

Their cooperation has included:

• defence
• investment
• trade
• diplomacy

The relationship illustrates the importance of middle-power partnerships in regional politics.

Türkiye and Saudi Arabia

Relations between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have experienced periods of tension and rapprochement.

Recent years have seen efforts to expand:

• trade
• investment
• diplomatic coordination
• economic cooperation

Türkiye and the UAE

Türkiye and the UAE have also expanded economic and diplomatic engagement after periods of regional competition.

This demonstrates the changing nature of Middle Eastern alignments.

Eastern Mediterranean

The Eastern Mediterranean has become strategically important because of:

• natural gas
• maritime boundaries
• shipping
• military deployments
• relations between Türkiye, Greece and Cyprus
• involvement of Egypt and Israel

Maritime Boundary Disputes

Türkiye has disputes with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus concerning maritime boundaries and resource rights in parts of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Issues include:

• continental shelf
• exclusive economic zones
• offshore hydrocarbons
• maritime jurisdiction

These disputes illustrate the connection between international law, energy and strategic geography.

Türkiye and Israel

Türkiye’s relationship with Israel has experienced significant fluctuations.

Areas of disagreement have included:

• Palestinian issue
• Gaza
• Jerusalem
• regional security

At other times, economic and diplomatic relations have expanded.

Türkiye has continued to place the Palestinian issue prominently within its regional diplomacy. Turkish officials participated in multinational diplomatic efforts concerning Palestine during 2026.

Türkiye and Palestine

Türkiye supports Palestinian statehood and has consistently advocated a political settlement involving Palestinian rights and statehood.

Its Palestine policy is also connected to its wider regional diplomacy.

Mediation Diplomacy

Türkiye has attempted mediation or diplomatic facilitation in several regional and international disputes.

Mediation diplomacy involves efforts to bring conflicting parties toward communication or negotiated solutions.

Türkiye’s geographical position can make it useful as a diplomatic interlocutor because it maintains relationships with actors that do not always maintain close relations with each other.

Defence Industry

Türkiye has developed a significant domestic defence industry.

Important areas include:

• drones
• armoured vehicles
• naval systems
• missiles
• aerospace
• electronic warfare

Defence industrial autonomy refers to the ability of a state to produce critical military equipment domestically.

Drones and Regional Security

Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles have become important in several regional conflicts.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) refers to an aircraft operated without a human pilot physically aboard.

The use of Turkish drones has increased Türkiye’s strategic and defence-industrial influence.

Economic Diplomacy

Türkiye uses economic relationships as an instrument of foreign policy.

Important tools include:

• trade
• infrastructure
• investment
• construction
• tourism
• transport
• defence exports

Economic diplomacy refers to the use of economic relationships and instruments to advance foreign-policy objectives.

Türkiye and the Muslim World

Türkiye has significant political, cultural and historical connections with Muslim-majority countries.

It participates in:

• Organization of Islamic Cooperation
• regional diplomatic forums
• economic partnerships
• humanitarian initiatives

However, Türkiye’s foreign policy is not limited to the Islamic world and remains deeply connected to European and transatlantic institutions.

Regional Multi-Alignment

Türkiye’s relations with NATO, Russia, Iran, Gulf states and European countries demonstrate multi-alignment.

Multi-alignment allows a state to maintain relationships with multiple centres of power while avoiding complete dependence on one strategic bloc.

Key Distinctions

Türkiye as NATO member vs independent regional actor: NATO membership provides alliance commitments, but Türkiye also pursues independent regional policies.

Strategic autonomy vs isolation: Strategic autonomy means preserving independent decision-making. It does not mean withdrawing from alliances or international institutions.

Mediation vs alliance: A mediator seeks to facilitate communication between parties. An ally has a strategic relationship involving shared interests and potentially formal commitments.

Competitive cooperation vs strategic alliance: States can cooperate in selected areas while competing in others.

Key Terms at a Glance

• Türkiye
• Middle Eastern geopolitics
• Strategic geography
• Turkish Straits
• Bosporus
• Dardanelles
• Montreux Convention
• NATO
• Strategic autonomy
• Multi-alignment
• Competitive cooperation
• Eastern Mediterranean
• Maritime boundary
• Exclusive Economic Zone
• Energy diplomacy
• Economic diplomacy
• Defence industrial autonomy
• UAV
• Mediation diplomacy
• Regional power

Related Glossaries

• 5.2 Diplomacy and Diplomatic Practice
• 5.4 Public, Economic and Digital Diplomacy
• 6.1 International Law: Core Concepts
• 8.4 Foreign Investment, Aid and Development Finance
• 9.1 International and National Security
• 12.2 Geostrategy and Strategic Geography
• 12.4 Chokepoints, Corridors and Strategic Locations
• 14.7 Türkiye, Iran and Middle Eastern Powers
• 16.1 Middle Eastern Geopolitics
• 16.3 Gulf Politics and Energy Security
• 16.4 Iran and Regional Power Competition

Conclusion

Türkiye occupies a distinctive position in Middle Eastern geopolitics because of its geography, NATO membership, military capabilities, economic relationships and diplomatic reach.

Its foreign policy illustrates the importance of strategic autonomy and multi-alignment in contemporary international relations. Türkiye simultaneously engages with Europe, NATO, Russia, Iran, the Gulf, Central Asia and the wider Middle East, making it an important bridge between several strategic regions.