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Explore how Turkey is redefining global power under President Erdogan's leadership. From Libya to Somalia, discover Turkey's expanding influence through strategic military presence, infrastructure development, and diplomatic partnerships.
Turkey's Expanding Footprint: Strategy Beyond the Ottoman Lens Turkey's military footprint now spans Northern Cyprus, Qatar, Libya, Iraq, Syria, and even Somalia. This expansion has led some observers to ask whether President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is attempting to revive the Ottoman Empire. In Syria, Turkey played a decisive role in aiding rebel groups, particularly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham under Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, in seizing control of significant territories from the Assad regime. This shift not only forced Bashar al-Assad from power but also enabled HTS to begin shaping a proto-state, one that exists firmly under Ankara's growing influence. But Turkey's strategy is not about old-school imperialism or redrawing maps. It is about influence — a form of modern geopolitics. Influence Over Conquest Modern superpowers such as the United States no longer annex territory directly. Instead, they deploy financial and political tools to foster dependency, or they support regime change campaigns to install ideologically favorable governments. The Vietnam War, the Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq are stark examples. With more than 800 military bases across 70 countries, Washington perfected a new kind of empire built on financial leverage, military presence, and political dominance. Under Erdoğan, Turkey is playing a similar game, though with its own twist: a mix of hard and soft power. Case Studies: Libya, Azerbaijan, Somalia, Syria Libya: Turkey backed the UN-recognized Government of National Accord, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, against warlord Khalifa Haftar — a figure supported by Russia, the UAE, and Egypt. In return, Ankara gained access to lucrative Mediterranean energy deals and secured agreements covering energy, health, and infrastructure, cementing its regional influence. Azerbaijan: In 2020, Turkish drones played a decisive role in Azerbaijan's reclamation of Nagorno-Karabakh. This not only strengthened ties between Baku and Ankara but also positioned Turkey as a serious actor in the South Caucasus, countering Russian sway. Somalia: On February 8, 2024, Turkey signed a 10-year agreement to modernize and train Somalia's naval forces while conducting joint air, land, and sea operations along its 3,033 km coastline. A parallel deal allowed for joint hydrocarbon exploration, with Turkey securing a proposed 30% revenue share from untapped marine resources. This made Ankara both a stabilizing partner and a militarily influential force in the Horn of Africa. Syria: Since May 2021, Turkish companies have provided the opposition-held city of Idlib with uninterrupted electricity for the first time in years. Combined with Ankara's backing of the Syrian National Army, this infrastructural support created a durable sphere of influence on Turkey's doorstep — well before the Assad regime's collapse. The Big Picture Turkey is not attempting to resurrect the Ottoman Empire. Instead, it is redefining global power on its own terms. Rather than coercion and outright invasion, Ankara seeks partnerships, alliances, and a careful balance of military and developmental support. In a world long dominated by Western-style imperialism, Turkey is writing its own playbook.