With power more concentrated in the hands of President Recep - Erdogan since a failed coup last month , Turkey has the right mix of economic , political and military influence to become the leading regional power ahead of Saudi Arabia , Israel and Iran , according to George Friedman , founder of Geopolitical Futures . His stronger position allows him to reshape the military ( the largest in the Middle East ) , intelligence and other areas thereby giving Turkey room to manoeuvre in the region . Turkey will need to have allies even as it becomes regionally powerful. Friedman questions whether Iran will 1 ) attempt to manage Turkey 's interests by itself ; 2 ) attempt to ally with Russia ; or 3 ) return to its prior alliance with the US ?
With power more concentrated in the hands of President Recep - Erdogan since a failed coup last month , Turkey has the right mix of economic , political and military influence to become the leading regional power ahead of Saudi Arabia , Israel and Iran , according to George Friedman , founder of Geopolitical Futures . His stronger position allows him to reshape the military ( the largest in the Middle East ) , intelligence and other areas thereby giving Turkey room to manoeuvre in the region . Friedman questions whether Iran will 1 ) attempt to manage Turkey 's interests by itself ; 2 ) attempt to ally with Russia ; or 3 ) return to its prior alliance with the US ?