The Global Rivalry over Strategic Connectivity and the Emerging World Order: A View from Türkiye

Abstract

The 21st century has witnessed the emergence of strategic connectivity as a pivotal domain in global politics, where infrastructure initiatives embody broader geopolitical ambitions. Central to this paradigm shift is China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—an extensive program encompassing a network of transportation routes, energy pipelines, digital infrastructures, and socio-economic engagements. This ambitious project, aiming to create a multifaceted matrix of global interconnectivity across continents and domains, has catalyzed an array of competitive and complementary initiatives from international actors, giving rise to a new era of “competitive connectivity,”. This paper examines the concept of strategic connectivity, showing how it qualitatively differs from earlier forms of global interdependence. Through a comparative analysis of major connectivity strategies—such as China’s BRI, the EU’s Global Gateway, and the G-7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment—the study explores their objectives, scope, and strategic priorities. In doing so, it identifies key areas of convergence, such as the emphasis on infrastructure development and digital connectivity, while highlighting divergences, particularly in governance models and geopolitical objectives. The paper contributes to ongoing discussions about the future of global power dynamics, highlighting a shift from traditional geopolitical competition to a new form of geostrategic rivalry centered around connectivity, where great and aspiring powers use their networks to influence the movement of goods, capital, energy, ideas, and people to their advantage.