Turkey's 'Blue Homeland' doctrine and Eastern Mediterranean

A new bill in Turkey's Grand National Assembly is set to redefine the country's maritime claims in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. This legislation necessitates a deeper examination of Turkey's maritime strategy and its foreign policy reorientations. The analysis should consider how Turkey's naval strategy unfolds in the Eastern Mediterranean and its integration into the national narrative. Furthermore, it raises questions about the potential for this complex region to transform from a geopolitical arena of conflict into one of opportunity and security for its peoples. Examining the internal and external dimensions of President Erdoğan's policies is crucial, particularly his shift from a 'one-nation hegemonic project' to a 'two-nation hegemonic project.' This transition, spanning roughly from 2001 to 2007/2009, saw a political realignment from the Islamist-Kemalist divide to a 'democracy vs. authoritarian Kemalist' framework. The period also coincided with Turkey's 'golden age of Europeanization,' aligning domestic political dynamics with foreign policy aspirations focused on the EU.

Turkey's evolving maritime doctrine and foreign policy shifts are critical factors influencing regional stability and geopolitical dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean.