Steps Toward Versatile Diplomacy and Strategic Independence from Turkey

Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey is focusing on versatile diplomacy, strategic independence, and taking the right steps in foreign policy during a period marked by the Russia-Ukraine war, the Gaza crisis, and global power competition.

While the Russia-Ukraine war, the humanitarian picture in Gaza, tensions in the Middle East, and political-economic problems in Europe shake global balances, the world is passing through a new power struggle. Ankara aims to protect its security and economic interests and contribute to regional stability by keeping communication channels open with different power centers. Contacts carried out with Washington, Moscow, Gulf countries, Africa, and the Turkic world constitute a part of this effort.

While the refugee influx following the war in Syria remains on the foreign policy agenda, Turkey maintains its NATO membership and continues its relations with the West on one hand, while diversifying its diplomatic and economic contacts with Russia, China, and other regions on the other. Its mediation role in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its diplomatic efforts during crisis periods are cited among the striking examples.

Defense industry, energy, and technology investments are among the elements of this strategy. While natural gas production in the Black Sea, oil exploration works in Gabar, and nuclear energy investments aim to reduce foreign dependency, domestic systems developed in the defense industry increase the country's technological capacity in the field of security.