TÜRKİYE’S ENTERPRISING AND HUMANITARIAN FOREIGN POLICY

A SYNOPSIS

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Turkish Foreign Policy aims to protect Türkiye’s interests in a volatile regional and global environment, while also shaping conditions for sustainable peace and development in our neighborhood and beyond. In the pursuit of this primary goal, Türkiye contributes to peace, prosperity and stability around the world. Guided by our enduring objective to achieve “Peace at Home, Peace in the World” as set out by the founder of our Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, we implement an “Enterprising and Humanitarian Foreign Policy” that, in our President’s words, “reflects the enterprising spirit and humanitarian values of our nation.”

Globally speaking, we are going through a period characterized by increased uncertainties, unpredictabilities, crises, and conflicts threatening peace and stability in our vicinity, accelerated political and economic rivalries among various powers, as well as the erosion of multilateralism and universal values. The international setting is shaped by the inadequacy of the current global governance mechanisms, fragilities that are increasing globally but especially in our region, rising inequalities, and acceleration of digitalization.

In order to eliminate the threats and challenges emanating from that backdrop, and to take advantage of emerging opportunities, Türkiye is compelled to pursue a foreign policy that is strong on the ground and at the table by implementing an insightful and agile diplomacy. In this regard, Türkiye benefits from deep-rooted traditions of diplomacy and derives strength from several factors including her central geographical position, rich historical experience, robust institutions, strong human resources, and dynamic economy. As such, Türkiye’s foreign policy is the embodiment of a bridge between the tradition and the future.

In line with the enterprising aspect of her foreign policy, Türkiye uses several complementary political, economic, humanitarian, and cultural tools and conducts a diplomacy that thinks globally but also acts locally in every corner of the world. With 260 missions abroad, Türkiye has spawned the 5th largest diplomatic network globally.

Türkiye has developed a globally extensive network of cooperation including High Level Cooperation Councils with 29 countries, 4 Intergovernmental Summits, and a host of trilateral or other multilateral regional formations. Türkiye continues to further strengthen her close ties with the countries in the Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa, Southern Caucasus, South, and Central Asia. Beyond these neighboring regions, Türkiye also deepens her partnership policy in Africa, and reaches out to the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean every day.

The Asia Anew initiative announced in 2019 has given Türkiye the opportunity to lay the foundations of a holistic and comprehensive policy towards Asia and the Pacific, home to the rising powers of the 21st century.

As the Easternmost European, and the Westernmost Asian country, Türkiye aims to strengthen her existing strategic relations and establish new ones. Türkiye has a strategic partnership with the United States as a NATO ally and considers the transatlantic link vital for security and prosperity in Europe. As an active member, Türkiye contributes fundamentally to the principle of “the indivisibility of security” within NATO. As such, we are among the top 5 contributors to NATO operations and top 8 contributors to the Alliance’s budget.

Türkiye is a part of Europe. She is a founding member of almost all European institutions including the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, among others. Full membership of the European Union remains as a strategic priority. Türkiye is actively contributing to the efforts to address multiple challenges that also affect Europe, including mass migration. As an energy hub and transit country, Türkiye plays a vital role in European and global energy security.

Türkiye supports regional ownership and solutions for regional problems. She is a founding member of several regional organizations and initiatives such as the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), the Southeast European Cooperation Process, and the Economic Cooperation Organization.

As a prominent member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Developing Eight (D-8), the Organization of Turkic States, Asia Cooperation Dialogue and MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Türkiye, and Australia), we have brought additional efficiency and dynamism to all institutions during our Term Presidencies. Currently, Türkiye holds the Term Presidencies of the Organization of Turkic States, MIKTA and Parliamentary Union of the OIC. On 1 July 2023, Türkiye took over the Chairmanship-in-Office of the BSEC for a six month term.

Solution of global challenges depends on collective efforts forged by cooperation and effective multilateralism. This reality guides Türkiye’s active diplomacy within multilateral fora. Türkiye has been an active member of the G20 since its inception and held its term presidency for 2015. Within the G20, Türkiye has been promoting the humanitarian-development nexus, as well as inclusive economic growth and equitable distribution. Under the motto of “the world is bigger than five” coined by His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye has been advocating the reform of the UN Security Council and the UN, as well as other multilateral organizations, in order for them to be fit for purpose today.

Türkiye has a leading role in conflict resolution and mediation and is the only country to simultaneously co-chair the Friends of Mediation Groups at the UN, OSCE and the OIC. In addition to her efforts on the ground, Türkiye also hosts the annual İstanbul Mediation Conferences, prioritizes capacity-building, and organizes the “Mediation for Peace Certificate Programs” for young diplomats from the OIC Member States.

In addition to the enterprising character of our foreign policy, the human factor remains at the heart of our efforts. As such, Türkiye is positioned as a compassionate power. During the coronavirus pandemic, Türkiye acted with the understanding of “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” By extending a helping hand to 160 countries and 12 international organizations, we became a world leader in terms of medical assistance, yet another manifestation of the humanitarian nature of our foreign policy. Türkiye has also repatriated more than 100.000 Turkish citizens from 142 countries in the largest evacuation operation in the history of the Republic, and made her compassionate power felt by its citizens. Besides, during the war that started with the Russian Federation’s attacks against Ukraine, Türkiye has evacuated more than 18.000 citizens from this country, enabling their safe return to their homeland.

We encourage the active participation of our citizens living abroad in the political, economic, and social life of the countries they live in, while maintaining their ties with their homeland and culture. We continue our efforts to increase the quality of the services provided to our citizens abroad.

Humanity is plagued by various scourges, including terrorism, ethnic or religious hatred, discrimination, extremism, xenophobia, anti-Islamic trends, while other forms of exclusion are also causes for concern. In addressing such widespread menaces, Türkiye stresses the need for transparency, diversity, dialogue, and inclusive policies. With this mindset, Türkiye has assumed a leading role in endeavors to foster mutual respect and common values among different cultures and religions. The UN Alliance of Civilizations initiative, co-sponsored by Türkiye and Spain, represents a solid response to the scenarios based on the so-called clash of civilizations.

Terrorism and various forms of extremism have reached a menacing intensity around the globe. Terrorist groups threaten international peace and security. Terrorism is a crime against humanity that cannot be associated with any race, ethnicity, faith, or geography. It is a global scourge demanding global response and solidarity. Türkiye has been actively countering terrorism unleashed by whichever organization under whatever pretext.

Türkiye’s human-centered state tradition is also reflected on our development and humanitarian aid programs. The first-ever World Humanitarian Summit was held in Istanbul in 2016. Türkiye is the largest humanitarian donor in the world, and the most generous country on the basis of per capita humanitarian spending.

At the same time, Türkiye is currently the top refugee hosting country in the world. It hosts more than 4 million externally displaced people, approximately 3.7 million of whom are Syrians under temporary protection. Türkiye has spent more than 40 billion USD to provide aid and services to the Syrians. On the other hand, Türkiye supports their voluntary and dignified return to Syria and thanks to our efforts, hundreds of thousands of Syrians were able to return to their homes.

Ensuring the efficiency of foreign policy requires keeping abreast of change and diversifying policy instruments accordingly. By designing innovative initiatives, Türkiye is shaping the diplomacy of today as well as the future. The Digital Diplomacy initiative aims to capitalize on the transformative power of technology in all avenues of foreign policy and increase our efficiency and effectiveness from consular services to public diplomacy, and from digital infrastructure to strategic foresight and analysis .

Similarly, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) is designed as an innovative platform to exchange views on global and regional issues and provide solutions to key foreign policy issues. In such a short time span, the ADF has become a well-known platform for global diplomacy. Following the first Forum in 18-20 June 2021, the second ADF was held in Antalya on 11-13 March 2022 under the theme of “Recoding Diplomacy”, with a broad participation.

A strong Türkiye means a guarantee for sustainable peace and development and a driving force for all surrounding basins. Achievement of the solid goals set out under the leadership of our President will not only raise the standards of peace and prosperity at home, but will also reinforce Türkiye’s contributions to her own neighborhood and beyond. In 2023, as we proudly celebrate the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye and the quincentenary of the Foreign Ministry, Türkiye’s Enterprising and Humanitarian Foreign Policy will continue to secure her national interests while simultaneously contributing to the shared goals of humanity.