When the Republic of Türkiye was proclaimed on 29 October 1923, few could have foreseen the magnitude of its transformation over the next century. Born from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, the new republic stood as a symbol of resilience and renewal, i.e., a modern, secular, and independent state under the visionary leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. One hundred and two years later, Türkiye stands not only as a pivotal power in its own right but as a nation whose influence reaches from Europe to the Middle East, from the Caucasus to the shores of Africa.

The early decades of the Republic were marked by sweeping reforms that reshaped every aspect of life. Atatürk’s revolutionary policies sought to secularise governance, modernise education, and redefine national identity. The introduction of civil law and many other reforms reflected his determination to align Türkiye with modern Western ideals. Ankara became the new capital, a symbolic shift from empire to republic, and the nation embarked on an ambitious journey of state-building and national consolidation.

Despite economic hardships and political turbulence in its formative years, Türkiye managed to assert its sovereignty and neutrality through two world wars, demonstrating remarkable diplomatic prudence. By the mid-20th century, Türkiye had cemented itself as a key regional actor with aspirations of joining the Western security architecture.

In 1952, Türkiye joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), a turning point that marked its definitive alignment with the Western bloc during the Cold War. Its strategic geography, straddling Europe and Asia, controlling the Bosporus and Dardanelles, made it indispensable to NATO’s southern flank. As the only Muslim-majority member of the alliance, Türkiye became a bridge between........

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