Turkey's Revisionist Foreign Policy in Middle East Politics: Strategic Positioning amid the Iran-Saudi Rivalry

This article analyses Turkey’s foreign policy in the context of the ongoing rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, using power transition theory as its conceptual framework. According to this theory, states are classified as either status quo or revisionist powers. The study argues that Turkey has increasingly adopted a revisionist orientation in regional Middle Eastern politics, positioning itself as an autonomous and pragmatic actor. Unlike Iran and Saudi Arabia, whose foreign policies are largely shaped by ideological commitments, Turkey’s approach is characterised by strategic flexibility and adaptive pragmatism. The findings suggest that Turkey's evolving regional posture is rooted in its broader ambition to expand influence and redefine regional dynamics in its favour. This research contributes to the understanding of emerging multipolarity in the Middle East and offers insights into Turkey’s recalibrated regional engagement amid great-power competition.