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According to Thomas Naff, the Ottoman Empire was geographically located in Europe but did not have the status of a European state for a significant period of time. First, this was due to the power imbalance between the various nations. The Sultans of the Ottoman Empire did not recognize the other non-Muslim governments as their adversaries or allies, and they did not engage in any diplomatic contacts with other states. A significant portion of the Ottomans believed that they were a worldwide empire. They even lacked diplomats until 1793. However, under the rule of Ottoman Sultan Selim III, a realignment of power occurred in order to match Europe’s advancements, resulting in the creation of the first permanent embassy in London. Following this, the conflict between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire resulted in the conclusion of the Paris Treaty in 1856. Despite the treaty’s notable importance, its most crucial aspect was the recognition of the Ottoman Empire’s sovereignty by European powers, marking the beginning of the Ottoman Empire’s territorial integrity within European international society. Dramatically, in 1648, the Ottoman Empire acted as a “balancer,” attempting to reduce Habsburg’s power over weak European powers. In this treaty, the Ottoman Empire was the weaker party, while European powers restrained Russia’s expansionism toward the Ottomans.

The Ottoman Empire has begun the process of reformation and modernization inside its borders, starting with the signing of the treaty and the recognition of its sovereignty by European nations. This was a consequence of the pressure that Europeans applied to the legal and administrative institutions of the Ottoman Empire. To be considered European, these institutions had to conform to the norms and ideals associated with Europe. The expansion of international society sustained the Ottomans’ stability in the region for an extended period of time, but it also created new obstacles. First and foremost, the Ottoman Empire’s limited capacity posed a significant challenge to the situation. The Ottoman Empire’s inability to act independently due to subsequent political pressure from European nations compounded this dilemma. In addition to political and economic challenges, the Empire faced cultural obstacles due to its status as an Islamic state, which limited its complete integration into European international culture.

In spite of extensive reforms and modernization efforts, the empire was unable to overcome the internal and foreign obstacles it faced throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The empire suffered significant territorial losses due to national movements in several regions, including the Balkans and the Middle East, which greatly undermined its power. Despite their initial neutrality in World War I, it was inevitable that the Ottomans would remain uninvolved in the conflict. After their involvement in the battle, the Ottomans suffered a significant setback. The Treaty of Sevres caused the empire to be divided into numerous regions. However, the Turkish National Independence War later challenged the implementation of this division.