Turkish Policy from the Black Sea to the MENA Region
The global order is in a state of upheaval. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the war in Gaza following the Hamas attacks in October 2023, and Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 have further intensified geopolitical rivalries, militarization, and geo-economic competition. In particular, the regions between the Black Sea, the eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East are increasingly at the center of power struggles, energy policy, security issues, and new connectivity projects.
In this dynamic environment, Turkey plays a key role. As NATO’s second-largest military power, a regional actor situated between Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East, and an important energy and transport corridor, Ankara is pursuing an increasingly independent and pragmatic foreign and security policy. In doing so, Turkish policy navigates the tension between strategic autonomy, alliance obligations to NATO and the West, regional power aspirations, and domestic political and economic challenges.
The workshop “Turkish Policy from the Black Sea to the MENA Region – Navigating an Era of Geopolitical and Geoeconomic Competition” addresses key issues in Turkish foreign, security, and geopolitical policy during a period of profound international transformation. The focus is on Turkey’s strategic positioning in the Black Sea region and the Middle East, as well as the implications for Europe, Germany, and transatlantic relations.
Together with scholars, policymakers, and experts from various regions, the event will discuss current developments in the areas of security policy, defense cooperation, energy and infrastructure policy, regional diplomacy, and geo-economic competition. The aim is to develop a nuanced understanding of Ankara’s foreign policy orientation and its significance for the European and regional order.
The workshop provides a platform for interdisciplinary exchange and practical analysis of one of the key geopolitical roles between the Black Sea and the Middle East.
