Revealing Perspectives on Changing Land Spaces in the Middle East

The changing landscapes in the Middle East reveal the emergence of a new geopolitical reality that focuses on the growing invisible geography of influence in the construction of new power structures. These structures are subject to virtual boundary perceptions. Therefore, the concept of borders, in its traditional technical sense, refers to a clear geographical space with defined features, directions, and spatial extensions, granting legitimacy to the state to exercise its sovereignty within its sovereign borders (Sovereign Borders). However, the nature of changes brought about by the developments in human thought has contributed to subjecting the traditional concept of borders to a modern interpretation. This can be observed in the evolving understanding of borders, not simply reduced to their traditional meaning, but rather turning into a continuous process of transformation in how the concept and its meanings have developed since its early formation.

The Middle East and Changing Borders

This leads us to reconsider historical territorial expansions throughout human history, whether disputed or for expansionist purposes—whether between individuals, groups, or tribes, often disregarding the principle of sovereignty and the concept of fixed boundary lines. In earlier stages, everything appeared as common land, subject to acquisition and annexation, before the birth of the modern concept of borders. Even so, borders were defined through an imaginary and hypothetical perspective, often marked by natural landmarks such as walls, wells, hills, grazing lands, water sources, or rivers, which served as symbolic markers shaped by the terrain. However, with the rise of industrial revolutions, particularly with the advent of maps and measurement techniques, borders began to be seen as a means to limit territorial expansion. The creation of legal and political measures has made such expansions face increasing obstacles.

Despite this, the intensity of disputes and their escalation made territorial expansion a dominant characteristic of international relations. In light of these profound transformations in state activities, borders were subject to annexation either through military control or through territorial concessions in international treaties and agreements, such as the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916. This serves as a clear example of territorial disputes and conflicts over natural borders between Middle Eastern countries in the post-colonial Western period, which has contributed to more crises and events, stemming from the deliberate actions of some countries to determine disputed borders with others.

Furthermore, the outbreaks of several international crises in the 20th and 21st centuries reveal attempts by various countries to rely on the concept of fixed, well-defined borders in their territorial expansions or in stationing military forces far from their geographical borders. This is evident in the events of both World Wars, regardless of the justifications each party used for achieving its expansionist goals. This trend also continued in the Middle East, where regional actors engaged in similar actions. This is exemplified by Israel's ongoing annexation of Palestinian territories and the expansion of its settlements.

From the above, we can infer that these disputes reflect geopolitical aspirations of political units, drawing from the cultural structures of these nations, which they try to present as neutral when dealing with cultural differences within the countries. They justify their actions with narratives driven by nationalistic or sectarian sentiments, which can be seen as tools to ensure the acceptance of their expansionist growth. This, in turn, enables them to achieve their strategic goals while simultaneously shaping the development of mental and rational perceptions of decision-makers and strategists. These perceptions guide their geopolitical preferences to assert their spatial dominance in the region. They take the form of an organic entity that grows through practice and interaction to expand progressively, as geopolitical thinkers describe. In this context, they have created a type of changing borders, known as "moving borders" or "transparent borders," which are defined as borders that expand based on the state's needs. As the state grows and its needs increase, it expands its territory at the expense of neighboring states through occupation or territorial annexation, known as occupied or mandated territories, a concept replaced by the idea of "transparent borders."

Virtual Borders in Geographical Features

We can look at Turkey's expansion toward its neighboring or distant regions. For example, this is evident in Iraq, Qatar, Somalia, or Libya, where Turkey has established military bases or virtual borders. These borders are defined as "those boundaries imagined by decision-makers in regions of influence and expansion, which take different forms in different societies. These cannot realistically be considered part of national boundaries for several reasons, including the possibility that an area of influence and expansion lies outside the immediate geographical vicinity of the state or is shared by multiple states." In this context, Turkey’s strategic actions serve as a foundation for the creation of new governance systems in the region, as can be seen in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

In this framework, Turkey's geographical expansion is reflected in its virtual boundaries, which are embedded in Middle Eastern dynamics. These boundaries are enhanced by elements that have shaped Turkey's political position in the region, beginning with the rise of political Islam in the Middle East. Secondly, Turkey's project to revive its regional role and reduce tensions with neighboring countries. Thirdly, the role Turkey once played enabled it to establish networks of relations with certain political regimes and Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood.

Moreover, Turkey's movement within the Middle East reveals how its virtual territorial expansion is guided by its geopolitical aspirations, aligning with both its historical past and current global orientations. This is evident through the means of implementing this strategy, including economic, developmental, cultural, diplomatic, and military cooperation. This approach was articulated by the Turkish government, particularly under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with the announcement of the "Century of Türkiye" project as part of his election campaign. This project reflects Erdoğan’s vision for Turkey’s role and influence both regionally and globally.

In this context, Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, expressed the new orientations of Turkey, stating: "Turkey enters a period characterized by rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics, coupled with ever-increasing global challenges, reaching a peak in a complex era marked by multiple crises. Against this backdrop, Turkey emerges as a constructive and active regional player, shaping a more inclusive and effective international system capable of addressing current global and regional challenges. While Turkey continues to secure its national interests in a volatile regional and global environment, it will persist in creating the necessary conditions for peace and sustainable development in its vicinity and beyond."

Thus, Turkey’s vision, which seeks a multipolar world, is characterized by clear regional actions, especially in the Middle East, as evidenced by its recent strategic influence in countries like Syria. These actions have helped establish its own expanding virtual boundaries, which do not align with its geographically fixed borders on maps. These expanding virtual borders signify a reduction in Iran’s regional influence. However, the creation of these virtual borders is seen as low-cost but highly strategic for Turkey's interests, offering a high level of flexibility in its strategic thinking, especially in formulating national strategies.

Naturally, these expansionist aspirations are not hidden, even though they may be veiled behind humanitarian, religious, or nationalistic rhetoric. Turkey has not hesitated to use these sentiments to achieve its growth in the Middle East, particularly in geopolitical vacuums that it has rushed to fill. This aligns with historical and political data that supports Turkey’s intentions, which the Justice and Development Party seeks to promote under the concept of global Eurasianism. Consequently, this way of thinking has fostered the rise of virtual boundaries as a widely discussed concept among scholars and international relations experts. Due to its flexibility, this concept has become a more widely accepted geopolitical term. Nevertheless, the question remains: Can Turkey successfully navigate its expansionist drive amidst the complexities of changing regional and international interests in the Middle East?