Ankara, Turkey, June 1, 2026 – As new power balances are debated in the shadow of the Middle East conflict, Greek media has turned its attention to Turkey, with a striking admission that Ankara possesses a ‘golden opportunity.’ This comes from an analysis published on the Greek-based Militaire website, which suggests that the US/Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East is reshaping regional power dynamics, with Turkey emerging as the most prominent actor in this process.
‘Ankara Wins, Athens Remains Silent’
The article, penned by political analyst Vasilis Lykos, states, “While the international community watches the Middle East conflict with bated breath, another development is taking place almost silently, but with immense consequences for the future of the region. The big winner of this crisis is neither Washington, nor Tehran, nor Tel Aviv. I believe the winner is Ankara, which has been able to maintain dialogue channels with both the US and Iran from the very beginning. Athens, on the other hand, remains silent in the face of this new geopolitical reality.”
‘Key Player of the Future’
The analysis emphasizes that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s geopolitical influence is rapidly increasing at a time when the military, economic, and political resources of other countries in the region are being depleted. It further notes, “Without being directly involved in the war, without paying the cost of the conflict, Turkey is emerging as one of the key players of the future in the Middle East.”
‘Indispensable for NATO’
The assessment highlights Turkey’s increasing critical importance to the West, stating, “Turkey remains indispensable for NATO, beneficial for Europe’s energy security, and necessary for any mediation efforts in the Middle East.”
‘Turkey Has a Golden Opportunity’
Lykos also extensively covers Ankara’s regional policies, stating, “Ankara has not abandoned its ‘Blue Homeland’ narrative, its strategy in the Aegean, the Eastern Mediterranean, and of course, Cyprus. On the contrary, at a time when other actors are exhausted, they have a golden opportunity to emerge as the indispensable power of the region.”
‘The Era of Self-Deception is Over’
Conversely, the article points out that Greece is facing serious structural problems. “Energy instability is increasing the cost of living. Maritime transport routes are under threat. The balance in the Eastern Mediterranean is changing. And most importantly: international interest is moving away from Greece,” the analysis states.
Lykos also issues a significant warning to Athens: “Athens must understand that the era of self-deception is over. The idea that we can limit Turkey’s moves has been refuted many times. Great powers act not according to who is right, but according to who benefits them.”
‘The Real Danger’
The analysis further suggests, “Today, however cruel it may seem to Greece, the West now prefers Turkey more.” One of the most striking parts of the analysis states, “The real danger is that we wake up to a new geopolitical reality where Ankara has transformed into a dominant player everywhere from the Caucasus to Libya, from Syria to the Eastern Mediterranean, while Athens merely watches.”
Lykos concludes his analysis by stating, “Wars do not only change borders, but also power relations. If the Middle East conflict continues, it is clear that the big winner will not be the warring parties, but those who implement their strategy correctly, namely Turkey, which poses a great risk for Athens. While the Turks are growing, we are shrinking.”
