Control of Trade and Naval Power

Understanding the threat posed by Portuguese and Spanish expansion, the Ottomans sought to consolidate their control over Red Sea ports and the Eastern Mediterranean to maintain dominance over trade. Sultan Selim I (r. 1512–1520) notably expanded Ottoman territories to include Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula, securing control over the pilgrimage routes to Mecca and Medina and the Red Sea, critical hubs for trade between India and Europe.

The Ottoman navy, particularly under the leadership of admirals like Hayreddin Barbarossa, became a formidable maritime force. Barbarossa secured Ottoman dominance in the Mediterranean by defeating rival fleets and safeguarding Ottoman maritime interests. The navy also countered Portuguese incursions in the Indian Ocean, which sought to control vital spice trade routes.

Diplomatic Engagements and Alliances

The Ottomans understood the importance of diplomacy and formed strategic alliances to counterbalance European maritime powers. They maintained relations with the French monarchy, an arrangement known as the Franco-Ottoman alliance, which was primarily directed against the Habsburgs and Spanish interests.

Additionally, the Ottoman Empire engaged diplomatically and militarily with Muslim states in the Indian Ocean, such as the Sultanate of Aceh in Sumatra, to resist Portuguese colonial expansion. The Ottomans supplied firearms, military advisors, and naval support to these states, effectively extending their influence into Southeast Asia. shutdown123