Prof.Dr. Mevludin Ibish*
Strategic rivalry between Israel and Türkiye, which began in the context of the larger geopolitics of the Middle East, has increasingly spread to the Eastern Mediterranean and, more recently, to the Balkans. The rivalry in the Middle East is manifested in the contrasting policies of Israel and Türkiye towards Palestinian issue, conflict and politics of Lebanon and Syria. As a result, the strategic rivalry has taken on a wider geographic dimension in the Eastern Mediterranean, evidenced by the establishment of strategic partnership and cooperation between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus in security, energy, and regional connectivity.The appearance of similar trends in the Balkans signals the possibility of this region becoming a new arena for rival regional strategies and spheres of influence. From the point of view of Türkiye, such a changing geopolitical situation necessitates an assessment of current policy and strategy towards the region. Ankara may have to reevaluate and adjust some aspects of the strategy in order to deal with new alliances and partnerships and expanding strategic presence of competitors.In such a scenario, an adaptive, multifaceted approach by Türkiye towards the Balkans involving diplomacy, economics, security, culture, society, and connectivity could potentially play a role that becomes increasingly significant. The Balkans should therefore be understood not as an isolated theatre, but as part of a wider geopolitical continuum linking the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean, and southeastern Europe!
*International Balkan University
