A SYNOPSIS
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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. Having celebrated the
quincentenary of the Foreign Ministry, Türkiye benefits from its deep-rooted
tradition of diplomacy and derives strength from several factors including
its 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.
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. In the "Century of Türkiye",
which has begun with the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye, our
national foreign policy aims to
strengthen regional peace and security
, expand the institutional basis of our foreign relations,
promote economic development and prosperity in our region
and influence the transformation of the global system.
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, and within the framework of our President’s vision of the "Century
of Türkiye", we conduct an
independent and national foreign policy.
Turkish Foreign Policy, which constitutes a part and parcel of our national
security system, prioritizes strengthening regional peace and security
through combating terrorism and extremism, conflict prevention, peaceful
resolution and mediation, and regional ownership.
Terrorism and extremist tendencies have reached a dangerous
intensity with regional and global dimensions. 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.
In a geography of active, frozen and potential conflicts, facing the
reality of economic destruction and mass migration movements in addition to
huge humanitarian losses, Türkiye considers the peaceful resolution of
conflicts as a priority goal in terms of ensuring regional peace and
security. Calling for fair
burden and responsibility sharing
since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, Türkiye hosts approximately 3.2
million Syrians under temporary protection and supports the
dignified, safe and voluntary return
of Syrians to the stabilized areas. In this context, Türkiye has spent more
than 40 billion USD since 2011.
Türkiye has a leading role in
conflict prevention, peaceful resolution of conflicts 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 its 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.
Türkiye supports regional ownership and solutions for
regional problems. Türkiye 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.
In order to expand the institutional basis of its foreign relations,
Türkiye strives to deepen its existing relations, while developing them
through new cooperation mechanisms and opening policies. As the Easternmost
European, and the Westernmost Asian country, Türkiye aims to
strengthen its 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, Türkiye is among the top 5 contributors to NATO operations
and top 8 contributors to the Alliance’s budget.
Türkiye is a part of Europe and 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.
The Organization of Turkic States, which embraces the
civilizational roots of the Turkic World, is a successful example of our
steps to expand the institutional basis of our foreign relations.This
visionary breakthrough, which has created excitement in the Turkic world,
will be carried to further integration stages.
Türkiye has developed a globally extensive network of cooperation including
High Level Cooperation Councils with 30 countries, 4 Intergovernmental
Summits, and a host of trilateral or other multilateral regional
formations. Türkiye continues to further strengthen its 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 its partnership policy in Africa, and
reaches out to the countries in
Latin America and the Caribbean
more and moreevery 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 a result of its deepening and widening comprehensive policies, Türkiye
has spawned the 5th largest diplomatic network globally with 261 missions.
It uses several complementary political, economic, humanitarian, and
cultural tools and conducts a diplomacy that thinks globally but acts
locally in every corner of the world.
In line with the objective of promoting economic development and
prosperityin the region, Türkiye aims to strengthen
regional connectivity. In this framework, it actively
supports the development of transport corridors in various directions. As an
energy hub and transit country, Türkiye
plays a vital role in European and global energy security.
Making the global system fairer and more inclusive is one of the priorities
of Turkish Foreign Policy. Solution to global challenges requires
collective efforts forged by
cooperation and effective multilateralism
. This reality guides Türkiye’s active diplomacy within multilateral fora.
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),
Türkiye has brought additional efficiency and dynamism to all institutions
during its Term Presidencies.
Türkiye has been an active member of the G20 since its inception. 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 is positioned in the international society as a compassionate
power. Türkiye’s human-centered state tradition is reflected on
its 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.
Humanity is plagued by various scourges, including
terrorism, ethnic or religious hatred, discrimination, extremism,
xenophobia, Islamophobia, 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 has represented
a solid response to the scenarios based on the so-called clash of
civilizations.
We continue our efforts to increase the quality of the services provided to
our citizens living abroad. We encourage their active
participation in the political, economic, and social life
of the countries they live in, while maintaining their ties with their
homeland and culture.
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 efficiency and effectiveness from consular
services to public diplomacy, and from digital infrastructure to
strategic foresight and analysis.
Similarly, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) was
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 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 its own neighborhood and beyond. Our national
foreign policy will continue to secure national interests, while
simultaneously contributing to the shared goals of humanity in the “Century
of Türkiye”.