Erdoğan’s Expansive Rhetoric Reignites “Greater Turkey” Debate

Eskişehir, Turkey – January 25, 2025 – President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has sparked renewed discussion about the scope of Turkish influence with remarks suggesting a vision of Turkey extending far beyond its current geographical borders. Speaking in Eskişehir, a strategically important city in central Anatolia,

Erdoğan declared that the city’s significance transcends its physical location, symbolically connecting it to places like Thessaloniki, Cyprus, Crimea, and even distant Samarkand.

“Eskişehir doesn’t just border its neighboring provinces,” Erdoğan stated. “If one border of Eskişehir is Thessaloniki, the other border is Crimea. If one border is Samarkand, the other border is Northern Cyprus.”

This expansive rhetoric, framed within Erdoğan’s “Century of Turkey” project, aims to project an image of a powerful nation whose influence spans a vast historical and cultural sphere. He argued that Turkey’s reach isn’t limited to its geographical boundaries but encompasses regions bearing a strong Turkish imprint.

However, Erdoğan’s pronouncements have been met with concern by some observers who interpret them as a revival of the “Greater Turkey” ideology, a concept that combines elements of Pan-Turkism, religious unity, and Ottoman nostalgia. The inclusion of Thessaloniki, a Greek city, and Cyprus, a divided island nation, in his vision is particularly sensitive and raises questions about Turkey’s regional ambitions.

While Erdoğan’s supporters argue that he is merely emphasizing Turkey’s historical and cultural reach, critics fear that this rhetoric could be used to justify expansionist policies. The Turkish government has yet to clarify whether these statements represent a shift in foreign policy or simply an attempt to bolster nationalist sentiment domestically.

This latest episode comes amidst heightened tensions in the region, with several ongoing disputes involving Turkey and its neighbors. Analysts suggest that Erdoğan’s statements should be viewed within the context of these complex geopolitical dynamics and his broader vision for Turkey’s role on the world stage.