The defense cooperation agreement signed last week between Turkiye and the UK marks the latest step in a growing relationship, reflecting how Ankara and London are drawing closer as their strategic interests increasingly align.

With the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, Turkiye’s relations with Syria’s neighbors such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq, have entered a new phase. In Lebanon last week, Turkiye and its position in the region was a significant topic of discussion. 

The Black Sea has historically been a region of strategic value for Turkiye, Russia and the West. Russia’s war on Ukraine has increased its importance as the region became the center of gravity for Western-Russian rivalry.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington last week covered a wide range of issues including defense, trade, and regional concerns.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once stated: “Turkiye wants to walk alongside Africa as a new world order is being established.” This statement clearly reflects Ankara’s policy on Africa amid the geopolitical shifts that have implications for the continent.