How Turkey’s Rise is Transforming the Middle East

Could Turkey be at the center of a fundamental geopolitical shift in the Eastern Hemisphere? In this recent clip from Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss Turkey’s rise and military transformation, how its stability and strength can reshape regional alliances, and what the evolution of US foreign policy means for Middle East power dynamics. This episode of Talking Geopolitics was released on July 10, 2026. Learn more about GPF and subscribe to our free newsletter at http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com/gp.... 0:00 Turkey's Geographic and Military Power 1:42 Regional Alliances and Rivalries 3:28 Cold War Legacy and F-35 Sales 4:40 National Interests vs. Moral Obligations 5:38 Erdogan and the Evolution of Modern Turkey