Waseem Shabbir
The completion of a hundred years old peace agreement named “Treaty of Lausanne” by 2023 is not far away. For the last few years, debates among various geopolitical and geostrategic thinkers have gained momentum about this conundrum. During the last decade, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged as a vibrant leader to international prominence in all political spheres. He is fully determined in making Turkey great again by playing a larger role in the world through trade, diplomacy and ambitious efforts at intensifying its military profile in the region. Striving to pursue a more assertive and nationalistic foreign policy indicates Erdogan’s unwavering commitment to make Turkey resurge to the past glorious era of the Ottoman Empire.
Speaking at the Anatolian Media Awards ceremony, President Erdogan said, “We work day and night to achieve Turkey’s goals for 2023 in accordance with the responsibility we have undertaken and the promise we have made. He also declared that the era beyond 2023 will be a new epoch of innumerable resounding victories and conquests, enabling us to transform the future of the entire region as per our will.”
However, the abrogation of the above-mentioned pact by 2023 gives birth to so many questions. They are as, to whether Turkey will be able to reclaim its lost empire. Will it be in a position to thrive economically? Will it emerge as dominant power across Europe and the middle east? Will it still be a member of NATO? To answer all aforementioned questions, we have to comprehend the prevailing geopolitical dynamics by delving deep into the historic perspective of the Lausanne agreement signed on 24-07- 1923 until 24-07- 2023.[1]