Algorithmic Power and Strategic Autonomy: AI Competition and the Reconfiguration of Security in the Eastern Mediterranean

The accelerating integration of artificial intelligence into military, economic, and strategic decision-making is transforming the foundations of power in international politics. This paper develops the concept of algorithmic power to explain how AI-driven capabilities reshape strategic autonomy and regional security dynamics. Focusing on the Eastern Mediterranean as an emerging arena of geopolitical competition, the study examines how states increasingly rely on algorithmic systems—from intelligence analysis and surveillance to autonomous platforms and data-driven decision architectures—to enhance strategic leverage and influence regional balances of power.

The paper argues that algorithmic power constitutes a new layer of geopolitical competition that intersects with traditional military balances while simultaneously reshaping deterrence, escalation management, and alliance politics. As technological capabilities expand, states increasingly seek to integrate artificial intelligence into national security strategies in order to improve situational awareness, predictive analysis, and strategic planning. Through strategic analysis and open-source intelligence assessment, the research explores how AI-enabled capabilities influence regional power relations and the evolving structure of international security governance.

The findings suggest that algorithmic power is emerging as a critical determinant of strategic autonomy and regional stability. The study highlights how technological competition is likely to redefine strategic interaction, alliance dynamics, and the broader architecture of contemporary international order.