How did the Ottoman Empire try to protect trade routes from Portuguese naval power?

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To protect trade routes from Portuguese naval power, the Ottoman Empire took several strategic measures to secure its Middle Eastern commercial interests:

  • Naval Infrastructure: The Ottomans constructed major naval bases at Suez in 1517 and at Basra in 1538 following the conquest of Iraq.1
  • Military Engagement: These bases were used to establish garrisons and fleets that actively resisted Portuguese naval attacks and engaged them in the Eastern seas.1
  • Strategic Countermeasures: By maintaining these forces, the Ottomans successfully restored some of the volume of the old international trade routes during the 16th century.1

Despite these efforts, the Ottomans could not fully restore the dominance of the traditional land-based routes. The Portuguese utilized sea routes to offer more competitive pricing in Europe, effectively bypassing the duties and local charges associated with goods transported through Ottoman territory. Ultimately, the Ottomans fought to keep these historic trade routes open, and the routes only fully declined when later powers, such as the English and Dutch, took control of the Cape route.1