The "Ottoman Dream": Turkey's effort to regain its lost empire.

Turkey had been one of the most powerful countries in the world with its territory stretching across Europe, Africa, and Asia. It once reached Vienna where the ottoman empire of Turkey laid siege to the city. However, as Turkey is lost in its lost glory, Europe's fast development has already left Turkey, a bloated old empire that has already lost its spirit in the sea of golden palace. However, after a century of humiliation, Turkey is planning a come back to its past glory.

Turkey's past had been glorious. The ottoman empire was one of the strongest in the world. In the peak of the ottomans, they are able to suppress Persia in the east, have sovereignty to all three holy cities of Islam, and poses a grate threat to Europe as it laid siege to Vienna, However, the grate power of the past got lost in the fast developing world as it fell far behind European superpowers in terms of industry, economy, manpower, agriculture, and strength of the country which resulted in it's multiple failure in different aspects as well as it's humiliating defeat in World war one. At the end of the war, Turkey was forced to sign the "shameful" Treaty of Sèvres which allowed turkey to be divided among the alliance on the form of occupation lands and gave away a large percentage of Turkish lands. Later, turkey experienced an invasion by Greece which Turkey repelled under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. later, Turkey experienced a wave of secular reforms that modernized turkey. In the years ahead, Turkey has developed greatly both economically and politically. Now, Turkey is aiming to put its position as a regional power.

Libya

There is a civil war going on in Libya since the Ghaddifi regime was overthrew by a bloody civil war supported by the NATO pact. There are now three major players in the civil war which are the Libyan national army led by Kalifa Haftar and the Government of National Accord backed by Turkey. In early 2019, the government of national accord is on the brink of collapse as its last piece of territory and its capital city is being sieged by the national army and is about to be taken. At this moment, Turkey intervened by strong military and financial support and forced the Libyan national army into a retreat. As a result, the government of national accord will support Turkey in its competition with Greece over the Eastern Mediterranean as well as the securement of billions of dollars business deal. Libya used to be an Ottoman territory and by influencing the Libyan government of national accord, Turkey can directly influence Libya which serves as a key to the Mediterranean competition.

Syria&Iraq

Turkey's military intervention in the Kurdish armed forces in Northern chunk of both countries is one of its largest military operation since the collapse of the ottoman empire. Turkey has long been plagued by Kurdish guerrilla attacks at its border and the independence movement of its Kurdish population. Also, Syria is currently in a civil war while Iraq is also experiencing political instability. By asserting it's military into these two places, Turkey is able to influence their country's decision making and possibly be a strong force in these two countries international affairs.

The gulf

Turkey and Saudi Arabia has a long history of rivalry with these two countries competition the influence and dominance of middle east. Saudi Arabia and its allies recently called for a boycott to Turkish products due to diplomatic problems. However, turkey has inserted an pin into the gulfs by making the small Gulf country Qatar become its allies with an Turkish military base being in the country since 2017. 2017 is also the year when the gulf countries led by Saudi Arabia led an blockade to Qatar and cut ties with the small country due to it going too close to the rivals of the Gulf countries. Turkey and Qatar have also supported the muslim brotherhood organization which has plagues Saudi and its allies and have been a strong but illegal force in Egypt with its leader even elected president in 2011.

Somalia

Somalia hosts Turkey's biggest overseas military base with hundreds of Turkish troops training local forces. Turkey has been increasing its influence in Somalia as the Somali government is a pro Turkish government. Turkey asserts its influence because Somalia is the horn of Africa and controls the Persian gulf which is an important trading corridor with a lot of oil, natural gas, etc import and export going on which means that controlling the horn of Africa controls one of the most important trading hubs in the world as well as the best way for some countries to go out into the wide world. Somalia is also very close to Yemen which has been plagued by a civil war since 2015. Yemen has long been a battlefield for Saudi and Iran only. But Turkey certainly want to have some influence to the country and compete with Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iran.

Eastern Mediterranean

Eastern Mediterranean is a golden place. Large oil and gas reserves have been found there which is very important to almost every country in the world with some ambition. The place is also a place of trouble in history with two historic rivalry which are Greece and Turkey. Cyprus is also a chessboard between these two countries. The Northern part of the country is controlled by a Turkish backed government after the Turkish invasion while the Southern part is led by a government backed by Greece. France also wants to intervene based on its deep alliance with Greece and the feud between France and Turkey over Libya and Eastern med. There are multiple confrontations and standoff between two different countries.

Nagorno Karabakh

In September 2020, there is a months long war that saw Turkish ally Azerbaijan regaining its lost territory of Nagorno Karabakh from Armenia. The war has been decisive due to its background. Turkey has long supported Azerbaijan throughout its history and throughout the war. Turkey has also been one of the biggest victors. Before the war, Azeris have long cooperated with Turkey and have been learning the Turkish military tactics while importing advanced equipments. it proofs that Turkey is able to support its allies while a corridor that links Turkey with central Asia has been established which further expands Turkey's influence across the asian continent. It also strengthens the likeness of Turkey among its allies as a lot of Azeris and Pakistanis have voiced support and celebrated their victory both online and offline.

Central asia

Central Asia is a land Turkey has dreamed of. It is the "backyard" for Russia and China given the past soviet influence. However, Turkey is actively increasing its influence culturally by launching a propaganda campaign in central Asia to build link between Turkey and central Asia based on their shared nationality and cultural identity.

Islamic world

Turkey has a big ambition as it is trying to gain popularity among other Islam power and their people. Turkey have been trying to build a leadership status among muslims around the world and stand up to attacks on muslims. This can be showed in the recent teacher beheading case inFrance where Turkish president Erdogan has lashed out verbal attacks to French president Macron over his word on Islam. This campaign have gained a lot of momentum as protests in countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan ran in correspondence to Turkey which proofs that turkey is more and more popular among other muslims across the world.

Overall, Turkey has been a country that has had its fair share of humiliation. However, the country is actively regaining its lost empire and glory as Turkey is being increasing assertive in world stage and using its status as a regional power to regain its lost influence and possibly territory. However, Turkey also have to be cautious. It is a regional power and is not strong enough to compete with world powers like the US, Russia, and China. However, Turkey has already crossed some redlines as the country is challenging these global powers over

their allies and gaining momentum in their backyard. This can be showed it the recent Turkish economic recession as the US launched an economic offensive to Turkey over their assertive position in Syria and Iraq.