Prof. Dr. Erol characterizes Türkiye’s role as that of a “geopolitical breakwater.” According to him, “As also confirmed by Araghchi, Türkiye has effectively functioned as a geopolitical breakwater in Iran-centered regional crises through its constructive approach. Ankara’s posture of ‘active neutrality’ and ‘regional ownership’ throughout this process represents not only the fulfillment of good-neighborly principles but also the manifestation of a strategic statecraft shaped by centuries of historical experience.”
Building on this assessment, Prof. Dr. Erol evaluates Türkiye’s policy since the outbreak of the conflict and its broader regional significance through several interrelated dynamics. He argues that Türkiye’s diplomatic approach has contributed to mitigating regional instability, preserving channels of dialogue among competing actors, and reinforcing regional crisis-management mechanisms. In this respect, Türkiye’s role extends beyond that of a conventional mediator, serving instead as a stabilizing geopolitical actor that absorbs and moderates the disruptive effects of regional conflicts—hence the metaphor of a “geopolitical breakwater.”
