The Rising Turkish Role: The "Blue Homeland" Strategy and the Impact of Turkish Maritime Ambitions on Relations with Eastern Mediterranean Countries

Abstract

This research examines the escalating Turkish geopolitical role in the Eastern Mediterranean through the lens of the "Blue Homeland" (Mavi Vatan) strategy. It analyzes the transformation of Turkish foreign policy from a continental focus to a maritime sovereignty-based doctrine. The study explores the intellectual and legal foundations of this strategy, highlighting the friction with international law and the "Seville Map." Furthermore, it investigates the role of domestic military industrialization, specifically the MİLGEM project and drone technology, in establishing a new "Status Quo." Finally, the paper assesses the impact of these maritime ambitions on regional alliances with key factors such as Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt, concluding that Turkey's maritime power has reshaped regional diplomacy from confrontation toward a complex realism.