For decades, the Mediterranean was treated as a periphery: a historical and cultural backdrop to global developments, but rarely a protagonist in them. Today, however, this picture is changing fundamentally. This ancient cradle of civilization is returning dynamically to the centre of international attention, emerging as a decisive hub of geopolitical, energy, and economic developments that directly affect Europe, the Middle East, Africa and, ultimately, the entire planet. This new reality demands a modern vision of cooperation, grounded in the understanding that the stability of the Mediterranean is an integral part of global peace and prosperity.
Strategic significance
At the heart of this new geopolitical landscape lies Cyprus. A small island in size but immense in importance, it is a strategic crossroads between three continents. From energy routes and sea lanes to submarine networks and trade links, Cyprus functions as a natural conduit connecting cultures, markets, and interests.
The peaceful reunification of the island goes beyond the limits of a national issue. It is an act of strategic stabilization for the entire Eastern Mediterranean and a prerequisite for a new era of regional cooperation. A united Cyprus could serve as a bridge between the European Union and the Arab world, turning the island into a model of coexistence and progress. For Turkey, understanding that a solution to the Cyprus question is an investment in peace rather than a concession is of decisive importance for its own regional position and credibility.
The geostrategic value of the region is no longer merely symbolic. The Mediterranean is becoming a critical hub of the new global system, where energy, security, maritime transport, and technological infrastructure shape international balances. Without peace and sincere cooperation in Cyprus and the Middle East, Europe’s stability will remain vulnerable and temporary.
The dilemma
The ongoing crisis in Gaza highlights the fragile balance in the Middle East. The Abraham Accords represented a historic step toward regional cooperation, but they cannot acquire real momentum without the participation of the Palestinians. Any peace that excludes them cannot be sustainable. Justice and mutual recognition are prerequisites for every lasting solution.
Beyond political and strategic parameters, there is a profound human dimension. The peoples of the region are weary of conflict and deeply scarred emotionally. Peace is not the result of a single signature, but a long process of reconciliation and healing. The wounds left by bloodshed do not close easily, and it takes generations to restore trust.
The reconstruction of Gaza will be a critical test for the international community. Just as Europe was reborn through the Marshall Plan after the Second World War, so now a collective global effort is required for reconstruction—not only of infrastructure, but also of education, social cohesion, and the restoration of hope. Gaza must be transformed from a symbol of destruction into a symbol of peace and renewal.
The new multilateral order
Europe must assume a central role in the new Mediterranean architecture. Today, however, it appears fragmented, lacking a single voice and a coherent foreign policy. Its failure to develop a common defence and diplomatic strategy renders its presence in the Mediterranean subdued. If it wishes to remain a stabilizing actor rather than a mere observer, it must redefine its role in this region, which constitutes its natural vital space.
At the same time, the United Nations has lost much of its effectiveness, and multilateralism is in retreat. The world needs a new architecture of cooperation, capable of uniting forces instead of dividing them. This presupposes leaderships with vision, willing to rise above narrow national interests and place the human being and collective responsibility at the centre.
At the same table
In this spirit, I supported the Prime Minister’s proposal for the creation of a new Mediterranean Conference as an institutional platform for cooperation, dialogue, and confidence-building. An open initiative that would bring all the states of the region to the same table—even those that do not maintain friendly relations—so that channels of communication and understanding can be built. Such a conference can be founded both on our shared historical experiences and on our shared aspirations for peace, security, and development.
The Mediterranean is no longer a peripheral space, but the new centre of the world. It is the cradle of civilization that can once again become the cradle of peace and progress. What is needed today is not power, but political will; not confrontation, but transcendence. With political courage and strategic vision, the Mediterranean can indeed be transformed into a laboratory for the world: the place where the next era of peace, cooperation, and development is shaped. A place where its peoples prove that their history does not end in conflict, but continues through the strength of coexistence, hope, and shared responsibility.