TURBAT:
The Ottoman Empire was one of the mightiest lasting the longest ever in the world history. This Islamic superpower ruled large areas of the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa for more than 600 years. The chief leader, known as the Sultan, was given absolute religious and political authority over his people. While Western Europeans generally viewed them as a threat, many historians regard the Ottoman Empire as a source of great regional stability and security, since they were progressively developing in the arts, science, religion and culture.
At the start of World War I, the Ottoman Empire was already in decline. The Ottoman army entered the war in 1914 on the side of the Central Powers, which included Germany and Austria-Hungary, and were defeated in October 1918. Following the Armistice of Mudros, most Ottoman territories were divided between Britain, France, Greece and Russia. The Ottoman Empire officially ended in 1922 when the title of Ottoman Sultan was eliminated. Turkey was declared a republic on October 29, 1923, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, an army officer, founded the independent Republic of Turkey.
The modern Turkish Republic was founded according to the Treaty of Lausanne 1923. However, by 2023 the period of the treaty ends, after which the current President has promised the people that Turkey will enter a new era of greater prosperity. Apart from initiating oil exploration projects, the country plans on drilling a new channel linking the two seas, Black and Marmara, in preparation of collecting fees from passing ships.
This comes amid growing tension between Turkey and Greece over a dispute on oil and gas exploration in the east Mediterranean. The plan has sparked huge controversy at a time when Turkey has intervened in northern Syria, northern Iraq, and Libya. It is evident that the Turkish government, led by the AK Party, is adamant that it will rebuild a strong and modern Turkey. However, will the country be able to cope with rising tensions remains to be seen.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2021.
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