Diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Austria started 160 years after
the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. Until the end of the Middle Ages,
mutual ambassadors were sent for reasons such as declaration of war, peace
treaty, territorial disputes, alliances, enthronement, weddings and
funerals.
Despite the fact that Austria had a permanent diplomatic representation in
Istanbul since the middle of the 16th century, the representation of the
Ottoman Empire in Austria was limited to “ad hoc” ambassadors until the end
of the 1700s. The first Permanent Ambassador İbrahim Afif Efendi arrived in
Vienna in 1798.
The first (1529) and second (1683) siege of Vienna by the Ottoman Empire
appear to have a long-standing effect on relations. Relations with mutual
struggle turned into alliance in the First World War. Ottoman and Austrian
soldiers fought together on the Galician front in the First World War. The
alliance relationship was reinforced with the "Friendship Agreement" signed
in 1924 between Türkiye and Austria.
Turkish community in Austria constitutes one of the most important elements
in Turkish-Austrian relations. The Turkish community in Austria is composed
of nearly 300.000 people.
President Erdoğan met his Austrian counterpart Alexander van der Bellen on
26 September 2018 and on 1 March 2022 in New York, on the margins of the
General Assembly of the United Nations.
Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg attended the Antalya Diplomacy Forum
held on 11-13 March 2022.
Foreign Minister Schallenberg and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner visited
Türkiye on 3-4 July 2022. Previous Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu paid a visit
to Austria on 14 April 2023 and held bilateral meetings.
A bilateral meeting was held in Madrid between President Erdoğan and
Chancellor Nehammer on 29 June 2022, on the margins of the NATO Leaders'
Summit. After the Presidential elections held in Türkiye in May 2023,
Chancellor Nehammer called and congratulated President Erdoğan.