03/09/2026
Israeli officials are increasingly shifting their strategic focus beyond Iran, with some now warning that Turkey could emerge as the next major regional challenge. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has been among the most vocal figures raising these concerns, arguing that Ankara’s expanding influence across the Middle East is reshaping the regional balance of power. In remarks made in mid-February, Bennett described Turkey as “the new Iran,” warning that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is building what he called a growing “Sunni axis.” According to Bennett, this influence network stretches through a series of strategic relationships and military footprints in places such as Syria, Qatar, Somalia, and support networks connected to Gaza. He argued that Israel and its allies should pay closer attention to Turkey’s geopolitical ambitions alongside the long-standing concerns about Iran. The comments come at a time of rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where disputes over energy resources, maritime boundaries, and military presence have already strained relations between regional powers. Turkey’s expanding naval activity and its involvement in nearby conflicts have added to Israeli concerns about long-term strategic competition. Despite the increasingly sharp rhetoric, analysts emphasize that direct military confrontation between Israel and Turkey remains highly unlikely. Both countries maintain complex economic ties and operate within a wider regional framework that encourages restraint. Still, the debate highlights how rapidly shifting alliances and influence across the Middle East are reshaping security calculations for the years ahead.