Turkey’s Muscle Flexing in the Mediterranean Isn’t Just About Gas
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is building a navy capable of asserting his nation’s interests as a regional power.
Turkish naval ships escort the Oruc Reis research vessel in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Sept. 6.
Source: Turkish Navy
Sailing through the Bosporus Strait that divides Europe from Asia last year, a Turkish fleet saluted the tomb of 16th century pirate and admiral Barbarossa, reviving a tradition that harks back to when the Ottoman Empire ruled the Mediterranean Sea.
Little noticed abroad, the tribute by sailors returning from the country’s largest-ever naval exercise now appears freighted with symbolism. As Turkey rebuilds its maritime might and contests disputed waters, it is once more in conflict with historic adversaries to the West.