Turkey's Strategic "Development Road" Project: Geopolitical Impacts and Regional Opportunities

Abstract

Transportation and economic development are indispensable elements for states. Road projects, which are used for trade purposes and have countless returns when the balance of exports and imports is under control, prepare the ground for the formation of political power and shape foreign policy in the process. This article focuses on the “Development Road” initiative on the “Belt and Road” project, which is planned by Turkey in cooperation with Iraq. This route project, which extends from the Persian Gulf through Iraqi territory and Turkey to Europe, constitutes an alternative to the project planned to open a space for the southern flank of the Chinese route or through the Suez Canal. Within the framework of the “Development Road” project, the study, which investigates the strategic goals, risks, opportunities, regional politics and their effects on countries, reveals an objective trend. Although the “Belt and Road” project, which is a Chinese breakthrough, has attracted much attention in the scientific field, the transit routes of the project have not been sufficiently emphasized. The conclusion of this study is that the “Development Road”, which is carried out jointly by Turkey and Iraq, has the aim of directing the Chinese project and becoming indispensable for the general route. The research is based on qualitative methods, literature review and analysis. It is thought to contribute to the studies on the subject.