The Mediterranean basin, as one of humanity’s oldest areas of trade and interaction, has been at the crossroads of civilizations. Turkey and Italy, located on the shores of this ancient sea, share a rich historical heritage stretching from the Eastern Roman Empire to the Ottoman-Venetian rivalry. Today, bilateral relations have gained a new dimension as historical competition has given way to strategic cooperation.
As two important actors on NATO’s southern flank, Turkey and Italy initially developed a security-focused relationship during the Cold War. The two countries, which developed joint defense strategies against the Soviet threat, have transformed their relations into a multidimensional structure in the 21st century. Particularly since the beginning of the 2000s, the strengthening of economic and cultural ties has opened the doors to a new era in bilateral relations.
The Libya crisis has been an important turning point where Turkish-Italian relations were tested. Both countries’ constructive attitude towards ensuring stability in the region has shown that a common vision can be developed in the Mediterranean. Italy’s historical ties and economic interests in Libya, along with Turkey’s recently developed active diplomacy, are complementary for regional stability.
Italy’s increasing presence in Lebanon and Algeria is creating a new competitive dynamic in France’s traditional sphere of influence. The successful results of Turkish-Italian cooperation in Libya and Tunisia show that this model can be applied to other North African countries. Considering Algeria’s energy potential and Lebanon’s strategic position, coordinated policies between Turkey and Italy could be effective in balancing French influence. Italy’s lighter negative legacy from the colonial period compared to France and Turkey’s soft power in the region increase the chances of success for this cooperation.
The African continent represents a new and developing dimension of Turkish-Italian cooperation. Italy’s connections from the colonial period and strong economic infrastructure, combined with Turkey’s recently developed soft power elements and humanitarian diplomacy approach, offer important opportunities for sustainable development in Africa. When Turkish Airlines’ extensive flight network in Africa and Turkish contractors’ successful projects on the continent are combined with Italian companies’ technological expertise and financial strength, they can make significant contributions to Africa’s development.
There is also increasing potential for cooperation in the defense industry between the two countries. The ASTER missile defense system developed between Italian company MBDA and Turkish defense industry institutions is one of the concrete examples of cooperation in this field. Turkey’s progress in its domestic defense industry and Italy’s technological expertise offer important opportunities for strengthening NATO’s southern flank.
Italy’s position in the Eastern Mediterranean tensions is also noteworthy. The dispute between Greece’s excessive territorial waters claims around Corfu Island and Italy is based on similar legal grounds to Turkey’s theses in the Eastern Mediterranean. Both countries argue that Greece’s excessive maritime jurisdiction claims arising from the islands are contrary to international law. This common legal position offers new opportunities for Turkish-Italian cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Energy security constitutes another important dimension of bilateral relations. Despite occasional tensions over the sharing of energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, both countries have the potential to become regional energy hubs. The completion of the TANAP and TAP pipeline projects contributes to Europe’s energy security while forming the basis of Turkish-Italian energy cooperation.
Turkey and Italy’s interests also significantly overlap on migration issues. Italy, one of the countries most affected by the EU’s inconsistent migration policies, was left alone within the union especially after the Lampedusa crisis. Turkey’s experience in migration management and Italy’s weight within the EU could be effective in shaping a more realistic and sustainable European migration policy. Both countries take similar positions on the fair sharing of the migration burden and ensuring stability in source countries.
However, there are also some challenges for the future of relations. The deadlock in Turkey’s EU membership process occasionally reflects on bilateral relations. Additionally, sensitive issues such as exclusive economic zone discussions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Cyprus problem can affect the development of relations.
In future perspective, developing Turkish-Italian relations along four main axes is important:
- Developing a common vision for ensuring security and stability in the Mediterranean and coordinating actions in resolving regional crises.
- Increasing cooperation in economic and humanitarian development projects in Africa, particularly implementing joint projects in infrastructure, education, and health sectors.
- Strengthening the southern flank within the NATO framework and developing technology transfer and joint production projects in the defense industry.
- Reshaping regional balances by developing coordinated policies in countries within the French sphere of influence, such as Lebanon and Algeria.
In conclusion, Turkish-Italian relations, with their historical depth and multidimensional structure, offer important opportunities for regional stability and prosperity. Deepening cooperation between the two countries is critical not only for bilateral relations but also for the future of the Mediterranean basin. Realizing this potential with a constructive and pragmatic approach that considers mutual interests will contribute to both countries achieving their strategic goals. Particularly in balancing French influence and limiting Greece’s maximalist demands, cooperation between the two countries can lead to establishing a new balance in the Mediterranean.
