Well frankly I guess most can agree that the world has currently officially only 1 super power. USA has full control over all of the world's oceans and seas, and is the single strongest military entity in the world. China and Russia combined would still be less of a power compared with US military capabilities. I'm not very familiar with Nuclear capabilities and shield defence systems among nuclear powers of the world, though I know both US and Russia has almost equal amount of warheads around ~3500, this surely puts a questionmark whether Russia also should be considered a Superpower. And China has its own reasons to be ranked as Superpower due to its military programmes and astonishing economical growth.
Turkey currently and for a very long time has been the second largest military in NATO after USA. Turkey has some dozens big scale frigates that are destroyer class, and has many navy programmes one of them being a light-aircraft carrier. Turkey's current airforce is in top 10 of the world's strongest airforce, and if we look in the future - Turkey has a contract of 100+ F-35 and in addition to this their very own indeginious TF-X programme which will be a 5th generation fighter jet. Turkey though has poor nuclear arsenal - Turkey (known) only has NATO nuclear defence system, though there are two things to keep in mind:
1. in Akkuyu (Turkey) there is an ongoing nuclear power plant construction with Russia.
2. A former PM (Necmeddin Erbakan) of Turkey has went to Pakistan multiple times, and returned with nuclear-scientists and engineers - this was a very hidden programme only few officials knows of this and it's not spoken of - the programme was kept on "hold" when Erbakan was removed from authority after Turkey suffered a military coup (back then in ~25 years ago) - what's interesting is, when Erdogan came for 15 years ago he resumed this secret programme (any Pakistani can confirm this?). We still don't know what extent the programme is as of yet.
In addition to all this, Turkey is developing its military capabilities with indigenous programmes in every field, especially missile and rocket systems(HISAR-A, HISAR-O), tanks (ALTAY tank, KORAL), navy (TCG Anadolu), drones (ANKA) last but not least jet fighters (TF-X). Furthermore, Turkey is also advancing in radar and satellite systems. And one must not forget the ongoing S-400 negotiations between Russia and Turkey.
All this said Turkey is surely no superpower, though it may be a regional-superpower in Middle East and somewhat in East-Europe. Though definitely Turkey is an emerging power, and possibly somewhere in the very near future it will become a great power. The discussion on whether Turkey possesses the potential of being a superpower is being asked, because personally I can come up with at least four reasons:
1. Turkey the single most developed and strongest country among all Muslim countries, and most Muslim countries looks up to Turkey today.
2. It is the country that united all of Muslim countries and ruled them for not less than 600 years, and it is the last country that ruled with a caliphate.
3. Most Muslims in the world is expecting a unition and striving for this, but many powers are not permitting this - going with Murphy's law it's inevitable for this to happen.
4. Turkey's current President Erdogan is loved among most Muslim countries, and most Muslims are actually expecting him to initiate this long awaited unition among Muslims.
I appreciate all your thoughts, opinions, suggestions and contributions to this thread. And don't forget to vote, and sorry if I have given any wrong info.
The question is pretty clear, and of course I don't mean anytime in the near 5-10 years but if we think 15-30 years ahead or more?
Thanks.
1. Turkey is internally divided. May be the current divisions are temporary
2. Turkey is no position to impose its will on its neighbors - Iran is a good example
3. Historical irredentism is dangerous. Turkey did not rule Persia or Indian subcontinent or South East Asia or most of Sub-Saharan Africa. That is more than 50% of the World's Muslims
IMO Turkey is fighting for relevance
1. The Cold War has ended. The Strait of Dardnelles is not a choke point
2. Thanks to shale US is independent in petroluem
3. The Europeans are not interested in Turkey's admission into the EU
