In May 2025, during the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania, a video of Turkish President Reçep Tayyip Erdoğan grabbing the French President's finger and refusing to shake his hand went viral on social media. This clash was not the first time such an incident between the two leaders occurred. In 2020, Erdoğan said that Macron needed mental treatment over an argument when the French president defended the country’s policy of laïcité after a teacher got beheaded. The personal tension between Macron and Erdoğan illustrates the growing geopolitical rivalry between Ankara and Paris.

For much of the 20th century, Turkey was defined by a precarious duality—straddling Europe and Asia, secularism and Islam, democracy and authoritarianism. Today, however, Turkey is no longer just a bridge between worlds; it is an assertive regional power reshaping the geopolitical landscape. However, beneath this ascent lies a deeper struggle—one not just about power, but identity. As Turkey expands its influence abroad, it remains divided at home, caught between competing visions of its future. Understanding this internal conflict is key to making sense of the forces shaping Turkey today.