Foreword Türkiye’s role in Southeast Europe(SEE) is often framed in the context of its EU accession process. Although this narrative dominated regional debates in the early 2000s, it no longer adequately reflects Türkiye’s evolving engagement with its immediate neighbourhood. In an increasingly fragmented international system and amid recalibrated transatlantic relations, Ankara has adopted a more autonomous and assertive regional policy, particularly in the Western Balkans and the wider Black Sea area. This publication brings together three national perspectives – from Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia – on Türkiye’s growing presence and strategic relevance in Southeast Europe. Each contribution, written by a regional expert, provides an analysis specific to the author’s country, examining how Türkiye’s ambitions are perceived and negotiated within the context of domestic politics, economics, and security. Türkiye is not a new player in Southeast Europe. It has longstanding historical, cultural, and economic links to the region. However, its current approach reflects a qualitative shift. Rather than positioning itself merely as a partner or stakeholder, Ankara is increasingly presenting itself as a power capable of shaping outcomes. Through bilateral diplomacy, economic statecraft and targeted security cooperation, the country’s role is expanding in both scope and ambition. This development coincides with broader strategic uncertainty in Europe. The erosion of normative consensus in transatlantic relations, the war in Ukraine, and shifting alliances in the Global South have created new dynamics in which medium-sized powers can play more agile and multidirectional roles. Given its geographic position – anchored in NATO, active in the Black Sea, and with significant influence in the Western Balkans – Türkiye is particularly relevant to the future of European security. Against this backdrop, the three country analyses presented here serve several purposes: they evaluate how Ankara’s policies are perceived and responded to within the region; they highlight areas of convergences and divergences; and they contribute to a more nuanced debate about the future of the regional order in Southeast Europe. Rather than presenting a single narrative, this volume reflects the diversity of national interests and perceptions within SEE. It highlights the importance for European and regional stakeholders engaging more strategically with Türkiye – not just reactively, but with a clearer understanding of Ankara’s long-term objectives and presence in the region. We are grateful to the authors for their contributions and hope that this volume will encourage more in-depth dialogue among policymakers, analysts, and practitioners working at the intersection of Southeast European and Turkish foreign policy. Sarah Hees-Kalyani Regional Coordinator Dialogue Southeast Europe Anna-Lena Koschig-Hölzl FES Country Representative Romania Türkiye’s Strategic Influence in Southeast Europe 3