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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.