In the complex security landscape of South-Eastern Europe, Türkiye has re-emerged in recent years as one of the most active and influential external actors. Ankara’s approach provides a mix of hard security interests with investment, cultural diplomacy, and selective political engagement. For European defence and security audiences, understanding Türkiye’s role requires moving beyond simplistic “neo-Ottoman” narratives and recognising a pragmatic strategy shaped by NATO commitments, regional ambitions, and shifting relations with the EU and Russia. Increasingly, Türkiye is not merely present in the region, it is embedded across multiple layers of governance,from infrastructure and finance to defence institutions and security sector reform.
Türkiye’s engagement with the Western Balkans is rooted in a combination of geography and history. The region has also functioned as a bridge between Europe and Asia Minor, and developments have direct implications for Turkish security, migration management, and trade corridors extending into Central Europe. Control over connectivity — physical, economic, and political — remains a key underlying objective.
The Western Balkans have long occupied a place in Turkish strategic thinking, reinforced by historical ties dating back to the Ottoman era and by lasting diaspora and religious linkages. However, contemporary policy is less about historical revivalism than about forward-looking positioning in a region where EU enlargement fatigue has created a certain degree of political and economic space for external actors.
Since the early 2000s, Ankara has adopted a more proactive regional posture, driven in part by the foreign policy doctrine associated with former foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. Foreign policy concepts such as “zero problems with neighbours” and “win-win cooperation” underpinned a shift towards economic integration, mediation, and political engagement. While these doctrines have since evolved, their legacy persists in Türkiye’s preference for flexible, bilateral engagement rather than rigid bloc politics.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: History and Political Sensitivity No country better illustrates the depth — and complexity — of Türkiye’s engagement than Bosnia and Herzegovina. The relationship is grounded in a dense layering of historical, cultural, and religious ties, but it is also shaped by the legacy of the conflict in the 1990s and the fragile post-Dayton order.
For Ankara, BiH represents both a strategic partner and a symbolic anchor of its Balkan policy. Successive Turkish governments have framed support for BiH’s territorial integrity and political stability as a core foreign policy priority. This has translated into sustained diplomatic engagement, including high-level mediation efforts between Bosniak, Serb, and Croat political actors.
Economically, Türkiye has invested in infrastructure, banking, and manufacturing sectors in BiH, though not at the scale of the EU. More visible has been its role in reconstruction and cultural heritage restoration, particularly through the rehabilitation of Ottoman-era sites. These efforts have reinforced Türkiye’s image as a long-term stakeholder, particularly among Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) communities.
At the same time, Türkiye’s position in the country is politically sensitive. Its close ties with the Bosniak leadership have raised concerns among Republika Srpska (Serb entity of BiH) authorities and, to a lesser extent, Bosnian Croat actors, who view Ankara’s involvement solely through a geopolitical lens. As a result, Türkiye must navigate BiH’s complex internal divisions carefully — balancing symbolic support with pragmatic engagement across all entities.
In security and defence terms, Türkiye contributes to EUFOR Althea in BiH (the EU’s military stabilisation mission, tasked with maintaining a secure environment, supporting the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement). Ankara also maintains defence cooperation links with the BiH armed forces, focusing on training, interoperability, and institutional development. While less visible than its role in Kosovo, this engagement underscores Ankara’s broader objective: to remain embedded in BiH’s long-term stability architecture.
Full article you may find it here. (https://euro-sd.com/2026/08/news/52792/turkiye-western-balkans-opportunity/)
In the complex security landscape of South-Eastern Europe, Türkiye has re-emerged in recent years as one of the most active and influential external actors. Ankara’s approach provides a mix of hard security interests with investment, cultural diplomacy, and selective political engagement. For European defence and security audiences, understanding Türkiye’s role requires moving beyond simplistic “neo-Ottoman” narratives and recognising a pragmatic strategy shaped by NATO commitments, regional ambitions, and shifting relations with the EU and Russia. Increasingly, Türkiye is not merely present in the region, it is embedded across multiple layers of governance,from infrastructure and finance to defence institutions and security sector reform.
Türkiye’s engagement with the Western Balkans is rooted in a combination of geography and history. The region has also functioned as a bridge between Europe and Asia Minor, and developments have direct implications for Turkish security, migration management, and trade corridors extending into Central Europe. Control over connectivity — physical, economic, and political — remains a key underlying objective.
The Western Balkans have long occupied a place in Turkish strategic thinking, reinforced by historical ties dating back to the Ottoman era and by lasting diaspora and religious linkages. However, contemporary policy is less about historical revivalism than about forward-looking positioning in a region where EU enlargement fatigue has created a certain degree of political and economic space for external actors.
Since the early 2000s, Ankara has adopted a more proactive regional posture, driven in part by the foreign policy doctrine associated with former foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. Foreign policy concepts such as “zero problems with neighbours” and “win-win cooperation” underpinned a shift towards economic integration, mediation, and political engagement. While these doctrines have since evolved, their legacy persists in Türkiye’s preference for flexible, bilateral engagement rather than rigid bloc politics.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: History and Political Sensitivity
No country better illustrates the depth — and complexity — of Türkiye’s engagement than Bosnia and Herzegovina. The relationship is grounded in a dense layering of historical, cultural, and religious ties, but it is also shaped by the legacy of the conflict in the 1990s and the fragile post-Dayton order.
For Ankara, BiH represents both a strategic partner and a symbolic anchor of its Balkan policy. Successive Turkish governments have framed support for BiH’s territorial integrity and political stability as a core foreign policy priority. This has translated into sustained diplomatic engagement, including high-level mediation efforts between Bosniak, Serb, and Croat political actors.
Economically, Türkiye has invested in infrastructure, banking, and manufacturing sectors in BiH, though not at the scale of the EU. More visible has been its role in reconstruction and cultural heritage restoration, particularly through the rehabilitation of Ottoman-era sites. These efforts have reinforced Türkiye’s image as a long-term stakeholder, particularly among Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) communities.
At the same time, Türkiye’s position in the country is politically sensitive. Its close ties with the Bosniak leadership have raised concerns among Republika Srpska (Serb entity of BiH) authorities and, to a lesser extent, Bosnian Croat actors, who view Ankara’s involvement solely through a geopolitical lens. As a result, Türkiye must navigate BiH’s complex internal divisions carefully — balancing symbolic support with pragmatic engagement across all entities.
In security and defence terms, Türkiye contributes to EUFOR Althea in BiH (the EU’s military stabilisation mission, tasked with maintaining a secure environment, supporting the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement). Ankara also maintains defence cooperation links with the BiH armed forces, focusing on training, interoperability, and institutional development. While less visible than its role in Kosovo, this engagement underscores Ankara’s broader objective: to remain embedded in BiH’s long-term stability architecture.
Full article you may find it here. (https://euro-sd.com/2026/08/news/52792/turkiye-western-balkans-opportunity/)
Photos by: EUFOR