Tirana: Turkey is actively expanding its influence in the Western Balkans by investing in infrastructure and religious landmark buildings. The construction of mosques is a key component of Ankara's geopolitical strategy, as noted by various observers. One striking example is the Namazgah mosque in Tirana, Albania, which stands 50 meters tall and can accommodate around 8,000 worshippers.

According to Deutsche Welle, the Namazgah mosque was partly funded by the Turkish religious authority Diyanet, with an investment of approximately £30 million ($34 million). The mosque's architectural design draws inspiration from the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, highlighting Turkey’s cultural and religious influence in the region.

In recent years, Turkey has surpassed Saudi Arabia as the leading nation funding new mosques in the Western Balkans. In the aftermath of the former Yugoslavia's breakup, Saudi Arabia was the primary sponsor for rebuilding mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rise to power in the early 2000s, Turkey has increasingly taken the lead in such projects.

Saudi Arabia, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has shifted its focus to restoring historic mosques within its borders and preserving its cultural heritage as part of the Vision 2030 reforms, which emphasize economic and social changes.

Turkey's ambitions extend beyond religious projects, as it seeks to assert itself as a regional power and the heir of the Ottoman Empire. Rebecca Byrant, a cultural anthropology expert at Utrecht University, explains that mosque funding is a component of Turkey's broader infrastructure policy, which spans the Western Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Byrant refers to this strategy as "infrastructure imperialism."

Turkish investors are actively involved in various sectors, including railways, ports, hotels, and shopping districts, from Sarajevo to Batumi, and from Astana to Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus and Senegal. In Astana, the futuristic skyline has been largely realized by Turkish construction companies with ties to Erdogan, illustrating Turkey's political influence.

Mega-projects in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus, such as a complex comprising a presidential palace, parliament building, hotels, and a mosque, underscore Turkey's geopolitical aspirations. These projects are seen as expressions of Turkey's vision for the future, emphasizing ethnic, religious, and historical connections with other countries. As Byrant points out, they signal Turkey's message that "we are the future" and "more modern than the West."