Tirana: Turkey is actively working to expand its political influence in the Western Balkans by investing in infrastructure projects and religious landmarks. Central to this strategy is the construction of mosques, which observers note is a key component of Ankara’s geopolitical agenda.
According to Deutsche Welle, one of the most striking examples of Turkey’s influence is the Namazgah mosque in Tirana, Albania. With a height of 50 meters and capacity for about 8,000 worshippers, it stands as one of the most significant Islamic places of worship in the region. The mosque, partially funded by the Turkish religious authority Diyanet with approximately £30 million ($34 million), draws architectural inspiration from the iconic Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
Turkey has now surpassed Saudi Arabia as the leading nation funding mosque construction in the Western Balkans. Initially, following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, Saudi Arabia was the primary sponsor for rebuilding mosques destroyed during the Bosnian War. However, with the rise of Recep Tayyip Erdogan to power in the early 2000s, Turkey began to take a more dominant role. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has shifted its focus to restoring historic mosques within its borders as part of its Vision 2030 reform agenda.
Turkey’s influence in the region is not limited to religious sites. As Rebecca Bryant, a cultural anthropology expert at Utrecht University, explains, mosque construction is just one aspect of Turkey’s broader infrastructure policy. Turkish investors are actively involved in projects across various sectors, including railroads, ports, hotels, and shopping districts, from Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina to Batumi in Georgia, Astana in Kazakhstan, and beyond. Many of these projects are spearheaded by companies with direct ties to Erdogan, which Bryant refers to as “infrastructure imperialism.”
A notable example of this influence is in the Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus, where Erdogan inaugurated a mega-project in May 2024. This complex includes a presidential palace, parliament building, large hotels, and an unfinished mosque. Bryant views these projects as expressions of Turkey’s vision for the future, emphasizing ethnic, religious, and historical ties while projecting a modern image compared to the West.