What if the Ottoman Empire joined the Entente?
Belligerents at the start of the Great War, 1912. (Green: Entente, Red: Triple Alliance, Gray: Russian Provisional Government)
In this scenario, the Ottoman Empire comes out victorious from 93 Harbi ('77-'78 Russo-Turkish War) preventing territorial losses and that leads the British Empire to improve relations with Ottomans instead of Russians. This incident pushes Russia to stay neutral because of their bad history with Austria-Hungary which is correlated with the German Empire.
Fast forward 20 years, Italy tries to take Tripoli from the Ottomans but fails miserably, so they form the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Even though the Ottoman Empire wins the war and forms a protectorate in Crimea; Serbian, Romanian and Montenegrin rebels declare independence at some point after the 93 Harbi. Ottomans let them gain their independence upon the United Kingdom's request resulting in the Balkan Wars not happening, which leads Ottomans to keep more territory in the Balkans than OTL.
Growing tensions between Entente and Triple Alliance reaches their breaking point on 9 September 1912, when Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Bosnian Serb. This leads Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia which ultimately provokes Russia's declaration of war on Austria-Hungary and therefore the Triple Alliance. While preparing for the war, logistical difficulties and hunger leads Russia to succumb to the Bolshevik Revolution, 5 years earlier from OTL, causing Russians to exit the war as they enter. Germany transfers almost all of their forces to the west, declaring war on France and invading Belgium which were guaranteed by the United Kingdom. Ottoman Empire also joins the war against the Triple Alliance, officially starting the Great War.
Belligerents at the start of the Great War, 1912. (Green: Entente, Red: Triple Alliance, Gray: Russian Provisional Government)
In this scenario, the Ottoman Empire comes out victorious from 93 Harbi ('77-'78 Russo-Turkish War) preventing territorial losses and that leads the British Empire to improve relations with Ottomans instead of Russians. This incident pushes Russia to stay neutral because of their bad history with Austria-Hungary which is correlated with the German Empire.
Fast forward 20 years, Italy tries to take Tripoli from the Ottomans but fails miserably, so they form the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Even though the Ottoman Empire wins the war and forms a protectorate in Crimea; Serbian, Romanian and Montenegrin rebels declare independence at some point after the 93 Harbi. Ottomans let them gain their independence upon the United Kingdom's request resulting in the Balkan Wars not happening, which leads Ottomans to keep more territory in the Balkans than OTL.
Growing tensions between Entente and Triple Alliance reaches their breaking point on 9 September 1912, when Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Bosnian Serb. This leads Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia which ultimately provokes Russia's declaration of war on Austria-Hungary and therefore the Triple Alliance. While preparing for the war, logistical difficulties and hunger leads Russia to succumb to the Bolshevik Revolution, 5 years earlier from OTL, causing Russians to exit the war as they enter. Germany transfers almost all of their forces to the west, declaring war on France and invading Belgium which were guaranteed by the United Kingdom. Ottoman Empire also joins the war against the Triple Alliance, officially starting the Great War.