SETA Security Radar | Türkiye’s Geopolitical Landscape in 2025
This edition sheds light on Türkiye’s approach to mitigating economic constraints, strengthening defense exports, and leveraging diplomatic influence to shape the regional and global security order in 2025.
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Regional initiatives for regional crises
Türkiye has been following an active regional policy since the eruption of the Arab insurgencies and revolutions. One of the main principles of Türkiye’s regional policy is the principle of “regional initiatives for regional problems.”
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The collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria has opened a critical window for accountability.
In 2024, Türkiye faced various security threats and regional changes, highlighting the challenges of counterterrorism and geopolitical turbulence. The year revealed both vulnerabilities in Türkiye’s defenses and new opportunities to consolidate influence in a shifting Middle East.
The year 2024 has been recorded as one of the most critical years of modern times for the Middle Eastern region. It was full of conflicts, wars, humanitarian and economic crises, political devastation, mass killings and even genocide.
With the ouster of Bashar Assad’s regime and the end of a nearly 14-year civil war, Syria is looking to a new future of abundant opportunities and several risks that could derail any effort to rebuild, but neighboring Türkiye is lending a helping hand.
Pillars of Türkiye’s Syria policy
Türkiye is preparing for a paradigmatic shift in its Syria policy after the collapse of the Bashar Assad regime. Before Dec. 8, Türkiye’s approach to Syria centered on the fight against terrorism and the refugee problem.
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Syria's Future: Lessons to learn from Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon
The collapse of the 61-year-long Baath regime initiated a new political process for the Syrian state.
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Debating what the United States wants in Syria might seem futile, as the question lacks a clear answer. This is primarily because, for some time now, the U.S.’s de facto policy in Syria—shaped by what it doesn’t want—has failed to evolve into a comprehensive strategy.
The Baath regime in Syria has ended after a 13-year revolution. After the Syrian opposition forces captured the capital city of Damascus on Dec. 8, Bashar Assad, together with his family, left the country and went to Russia, one of its main supporters. The latest development is a great success for the revolutionary Syrian people, who the regime had oppressed for 61 years. I am quite optimistic about the future of the Syrian state since the Syrian people have a long tradition of peaceful coexistence. Today, I will briefly underline that culture's history and the Syrian people's anti-imperialism.
Understanding the Revolution in Syria
Türkiye’s extended hand for normalization represented an opportunity for the Bashar Assad regime. Starting in the early months of 2023, Türkiye demonstrated its determination on this issue. Ensuring territorial integrity, clearing terrorism, enabling the return of refugees and ultimately establishing an inclusive and stable administration in Syria – without excluding the regime – offered Assad a viable way out.
