Politics
Türkiye steps up global role with mediation, climate push, aid efforts
Over the past decades, Türkiye has expanded its public diplomacy efforts beyond traditional communication, positioning a wide range of institutions and nonstate actors as key tools in shaping its international image.
Institutions such as the Yunus Emre Institute (YEE), the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), the Turkish Maarif Foundation, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and Anadolu Agency (AA) are cited as leading contributors to Türkiye’s public diplomacy architecture.
AA operates in 144 countries and publishes in 13 languages, making it one of the world’s largest international news agencies. TRT, meanwhile, conducts multilingual broadcasting tailored to regional audiences through channels such as TRT World, TRT Arabi, TRT Türk and TRT Avaz, officials say. TRT has also expanded its cultural outreach through its digital streaming platform “tabii,” which distributes Turkish television series globally.
Speaking on Jan. 20, 2026, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said public diplomacy has become increasingly critical in an era where communication is used as a strategic weapon. In a social media post, Duran said Türkiye was building secure and effective communication ecosystems under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, while actively combating disinformation.
Another cornerstone of Türkiye’s public diplomacy is the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), held annually since 2021. The fourth forum took place in April 2025 under the theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” highlighting concerns over global polarization, inequality, violence against civilians and declining trust in international institutions.
The next edition, scheduled for April 17-19, 2026, will focus on “Designing the Future: Managing Uncertainty,” continuing Türkiye’s efforts to position itself as a hub for global diplomatic engagement.
Public diplomacy initially emerged as a government-driven communication process, but advances in digital technology and global media have diversified its actors. Universities, opinion leaders, media organizations, international institutions, private companies and individual citizens are now considered central to public diplomacy.
Humanitarian diplomacy
Türkiye has intensified its use of humanitarian diplomacy to position itself as a global peace broker, delivering not only humanitarian and development assistance but also acting on moral and ethical principles across the world during crises.
Erdoğan has framed the country’s foreign policy around global justice and reform of the international system, often using the slogan “The world is bigger than five,” underlining that humanitarian diplomacy forms a core element of this vision.
During the Syrian civil war, Ankara became the world’s largest host of refugees, sheltering millions of Syrians and still continues to extend humanitarian and mediation efforts across regions, including Gaza, Somalia, Sudan and Libya, presenting itself as a global advocate for civilians affected by war and crisis.
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has launched two development projects in Mozambique and Djibouti aimed at supporting vulnerable groups, strengthening local production capacity and promoting sustainable economic growth. It aims to support women who are victims of physical and sexual violence and reintegrate them into social and economic life.
As part of the initiative, a production kitchen has been established to contribute to the women’s rehabilitation process while enabling them to generate a regular income.
In a separate project in Djibouti, TIKA supports the development of the fisheries sector by providing infrastructure and equipment for fishing boat production and establishing a dedicated boat manufacturing workshop. The agency supplies equipment and materials.
TIKA also completed the construction of a flood-resilient settlement for vulnerable river island communities in northern Bangladesh, delivering a long-term solution to recurring displacement caused by flooding and riverbank erosion along the Brahmaputra River.
The agency opened a newly constructed school building in northern Afghanistan as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen education, employment and local production through development projects. In December, the 24th “Kindness Train,” carrying 1,300 tons of emergency relief supplies for earthquake survivors, including 28,000 food parcels, 560 tons of food supplies, 550 tons of flour and 14,000 blankets, was sent.
Türkiye’s rail-based humanitarian deliveries to Afghanistan over the past three years have reached a cumulative 11,768 tons.
On the other hand, Türkiye has always called for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Sudan, reiterating its continuous support to the countries and people suffering there.
Following the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) dispatching its 19th “Goodness Ship,” carrying nearly 1,300 tons of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip from the southern Mersin Port in December, most recently, the 20th “Goodness Ship” arrived in Egypt’s al-Arish port on Sunday, carrying 1,400 tons of humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
The ship carried food, blankets, tents, winter clothes and hygiene kits among other aid materials, for Palestinians who struggle to survive in the harsh winter in the Palestinian enclave, almost razed to the ground by Israel’s genocidal attacks since 2023.
The 6th humanitarian “Goodness Ship” was also sent to Sudan, delivering 2,600 tons of aid as part of ongoing efforts to support civilians affected by the country’s ongoing civil war.
Last week, TIKA and UNICEF signed a cooperation protocol on Thursday aimed at improving the living conditions of children and young people in Cameroon.
Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Türkiye also provided aid all across the globe to 131 countries affected by the pandemic including Germany, China, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, Norway, Nigeria, Mexico and Somalia, in coordination with the Health Ministry, the National Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, TIKA, Kızılay and nongovernmental groups (NGOs), in-kind aid.
The assistance included donations of medical supplies and equipment such as protective gear, diagnostic kits, medicines and ventilators.
Mediation and peace diplomacy
Over the past few years, issues regarding securing justice and representation within the current international system have become unsustainable. Erdoğan’s “The world is bigger than five” approach represented not only a political stance but also a humanitarian and ethical call for reform.
Türkiye has been a staunch critic of Israel, with which it was about to normalize relations before the new round of the Palestine-Israel conflict began in 2023. The Gaza conflict remained a central theme in several meetings.
Before and after the cease-fire plan, which took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, Türkiye played a key role in ending the devastating suffering in Gaza and bringing peace and stability to the Middle East. Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın and other Turkish political figures urged to make constructive steps to revive Gaza and end the Israeli aggression since the beginning of the conflict.
Recently, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack commented at the Jerusalem Post’s Washington conference on Türkiye’s military capacity and the channels of dialogue with the Palestinian group Hamas, noting that Türkiye should be included in an international stabilization force for Gaza.
A U.S official said earlier in January that Türkiye has played a very integral role in reaching the cease-fire in Gaza, while U.S President Donald Trump’s plan for the Gaza Strip transitions into the second phase.
Türkiye has also been a central diplomatic figure between Kyiv and Moscow since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.
On March 10, 2022, just days after matters escalated, Ankara successfully hosted the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine at the ADF, marking the highest-level meeting since the war’s outbreak.
Furthering its mediation efforts, Türkiye facilitated another crucial gathering of Russian and Ukrainian negotiation teams in Istanbul from March 28 to 30, 2022.
Ankara’s most notable diplomatic triumph was brokering the Black Sea Grain Initiative alongside the U.N. on July 22, 2022. This agreement, aimed at alleviating global food security threats triggered by the war, garnered widespread international acclaim and resulted in establishing a Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.
Erdoğan has maintained open communication channels with Moscow and Kyiv. With his landmark visit to Lviv on Aug. 18, 2022, Erdoğan became the only NATO leader to have visited both nations since hostilities erupted, reflecting Türkiye’s unique position.
Furthermore, Türkiye successfully facilitated a significant prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on Sept. 22, 2022.
Türkiye significantly influenced the decadeslong Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute over Karabakh. In September 2023, Azerbaijan successfully regained control of Karabakh through a swift 44-day military campaign triggered by Armenian provocations and attacks.
Türkiye played a critical supporting role throughout the conflict, offering extensive defense industry cooperation, technology transfers, and strategic diplomatic support that contributed significantly to Azerbaijan’s military success and subsequent peace efforts.
Türkiye with its strong commitment to preventive diplomacy and mediation, worked to resolve conflicts peacefully across a wide range of geography including reconciliation in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Kyrgyzstan, the establishment of the trilateral cooperation mechanism with Afghanistan and Pakistan and the launch of the “Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process” based on the principle of regional ownership, the establishment of trilateral consultation mechanisms between Bosnia-Herzegovina-Croatia-Türkiye and Bosnia-Herzegovina-Serbia-Türkiye, and the Ankara Declaration between Ethiopia and Somalia, as the Foreign Ministry stated.
Climate diplomacy
Türkiye’s climate policies, emissions-reduction targets, and green transition programs serve as a global example.
Türkiye secured the hosting and presidency of COP31, with Australia to lead negotiations at the summit, in a win-win solution following negotiations of the impasse between the two countries led by Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP30 conference, held last year in Brazil.
“More than 80,000 people from 196 countries will be here, and we will show them Türkiye’s power to hold such summits and our hospitality,” Kurum said to reporters during the Antalya EXPO Fairgrounds earlier in January.
The 31st Conference of the Parties is scheduled to take place on Nov. 9-20, 2026, primarily in Antalya, with a leaders’ summit in Istanbul.
The Zero Waste Project, one of Türkiye’s most prominent international initiatives in recent years, is positioned as a cornerstone of the COP31 process. The initiative promotes a comprehensive approach focused on resource efficiency, circular economy principles, waste reduction and sustainable production and consumption models.
As part of COP31 preparations, the Zero Waste Foundation is implementing a comprehensive process to define the conference’s sustainability standards. The “Sustainable COP31 Framework” developed by the foundation aims to reduce the event’s carbon footprint, optimize resource use and make environmental performance measurable for all stakeholders.
Designed in line with U.N. sustainable event standards, the framework includes zero waste management protocols, carbon reduction and offset strategies, sustainable logistics and transportation planning, environmental performance criteria for event venues, and stakeholder engagement and transparency mechanisms. The goal is to make COP31 a global model for sustainable mega-events.
The zero waste vision was launched under the leadership of first lady Emine Erdoğan, founder of the Zero Waste Project and honorary president of the Zero Waste Foundation.
Moreover, recently, the High Seas Treaty, considered a landmark global agreement to protect marine biodiversity in international waters, entered into force on Jan. 17, after receiving the required 60 ratifications, marking a major milestone in ocean conservation.
The agreement, formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), was adopted by the U.N. in 2023. It establishes a legal framework for creating protected areas on the high seas and requires environmental impact assessments for activities that could harm fragile marine ecosystems.
Cultural diplomacy
Using television series, cuisine and heritage sites, Türkiye has increased cultural outreach across the world to strengthen its global image and tourism appeal.
Gastrodiplomacy, as a soft-power strategy, uses national cuisine to connect with foreign publics, creating lasting cultural ties and serving as a strategic tool to support economic relations.
Recently, the traditional Turkish dessert “Antakya Künefe,” which earned the No. 1 spot on the World’s 100 Best Desserts list by TasteAtlas, stands out for being prepared with a cheese that is protected by a geographical indication.
Following the recent registration of Hatay’s “kaytaz böreği” and Gaziantep baklava, Türkiye’s EU-recognized GI count reached 40. Authorities aim to raise that figure to 45 by the end of this year and 60 next year.
Over the past two decades, Turkish series have built a strong audience base across a vast geography stretching from the Middle East to the Balkans, and from Latin America to South Asia.
One of the earliest and most symbolic examples of this shift was the hit television series “Magnificent Century,” which depicted life inside the Ottoman palace and sparked widespread curiosity across the world. With “Resurrection: Ertuğrul,” an epic drama that emphasized themes of justice, loyalty and sacrifice, the series gained a strong following from Pakistan to Indonesia and across Central Asia and the Gulf, particularly resonating in Muslim-majority societies.
Television productions have also reshaped domestic tourism. Series such as “Uzak Şehir” “Hercai” and “Sıla” transformed the southeastern city of Mardin into popular destinations, with filming locations becoming symbolic stops for visitors.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said last month that Türkiye ranks first globally in annual television episode production and is among the world’s top three TV exporters. He noted that the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency operates in nearly 200 countries, with the GoTürkiye platform reaching more than 21 million followers worldwide.
On the other hand, cultural diplomacy has extended beyond television and cuisine. Göbeklitepe, the 12,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site often described as the “zero point of history,” has inspired contemporary artists abroad and drawn renewed attention following recent archaeological discoveries, including a rare human statue believed to have been placed as a votive offering.
Ünal Üstel, the prime minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), condemned Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides for statements praising the terrorist group EOKA on the latter’s anniversary of foundation. “It is basically ignoring the oppression Turkish Cypriots are exposed to,” Üstel said in a statement on Thursday.
Founded by Georgios Grivas in 1954, EOKA staged its first terrorist attack a year later. However, its primary objective was to fight against the British occupiers of the island in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The terror group began committing more terrorist attacks and massacres against Turkish Cypriots in 1958, in line with its goals of clearing the island of Turks and uniting it with Greece.
EOKA has been notorious since then for its crimes against Turks and is listed as a terrorist organization, but celebrations continue to be held in the Greek Cypriot party of divided Cyprus every year for its foundation. This year’s celebrations on the Greek Cypriot side were also the scene of attacks by a Greek Cypriot group toward Turkish Cypriots in a park on the other side of the buffer zone between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides. Masked assailants have hurled homemade explosives and rocks at Turkish Cypriots before the arrival of Turkish soldiers to the park forced them to flee.
Üstel stated that portraying EOKA as part of “a fight for national liberation” and conveying it to new generations in this manner meant distorting the historical facts. “For Turkish Cypriot people, EOKA does not mean a movement of struggle, it is synonymous with massacres, attacks and systematic pressure. It is unacceptable to extol this group and revive it in collective memory, while it is known what the Turkish Cypriot people suffered. This approach contradicts any effort to build a common future on the island,” he said.
Commenting on Wednesday’s attacks on the buffer zone, the prime minister said it laid bare gaps in security measures in the buffer zone, calling on the U.N. peacekeepers stationed there to take responsibility. “This is a dire development for civilians and is unacceptable. We also expect the Greek Cypriot administration to launch an investigation into this attack and bring those involved to justice, to prevent further escalation of tensions,” he said.
Türkiye on Wednesday dismissed reports suggesting it has been excluded from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, saying the process is still underway and no final decision has been made.
Sources from the Foreign Ministry stated that discussions on the EU’s draft regulation for the 2028-2034 period are ongoing within both the European Parliament and the EU Council, indicating that negotiations have not yet concluded.
They noted that some proposals in the European Parliament relate only to participation in certain components of the program and do not concern Türkiye’s overall participation status.
The sources added that the final outcome will be determined through negotiations between EU institutions and that Türkiye is taking necessary steps while closely monitoring the process.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek hosted Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel on Wednesday. The meeting inevitably focused on the extradition of the terror suspects wanted by Türkiye. Gürlek highlighted the fact that they were still awaiting the extradition of 217 Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) and eight PKK members from the Netherlands, the ministry said in a statement regarding the meeting.
The Netherlands’ permissive stance toward members of FETÖ and the PKK has been a thorn in relations between the two countries in the past, and Gürlek’s statement indicated that the issue has lingered.
Gürlek, who was appointed as minister in February after serving as a chief prosecutor investigating, among others, FETÖ-related cases, told the Dutch counterpart that his visit would contribute to improving existing cooperation between the two countries. The minister stated that Türkiye and the Netherlands had deep ties, and the about 500,000-strong Turkish community in the Netherlands played a significant role in strengthening the ties.
The minister also reminded that Türkiye and the Netherlands are allies in NATO. “We attach importance to developing dialogue and cooperation with our ally, the Netherlands, at a time of heightened global and regional risks,” he said.
“We particularly value mutual judicial cooperation between the two countries on issues such as organized crime, the fight against organized crime, drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and the laundering of proceeds of crime. Cooperation between judicial authorities will also strengthen the cooperation between the countries and undertake an important task in terms of the effectiveness of international justice.”
Reminding that 251 people were martyred during the July 15, 2016 coup attempt by FETÖ, Gürlek underlined the threat it posed.
“Due to the judicial processes carried out within this scope, our ministry has conveyed requests for mutual legal assistance to your ministry and your competent authorities,” he told the Dutch counterpart. “However, unfortunately, some problems have arisen regarding the fulfillment of these requests. Our country’s determined fight against the FETÖ, which targets the constitutional order and usurps the national will, continues. In this context, we hope that the authorities of the Netherlands, whom we see as a friend and ally, will help us and show cooperation, especially in terms of judicial assistance and the extradition of criminals.”
FETÖ, which is known for its widespread infiltration in Türkiye, tried to overthrow the government three times in 2013 and 2016. When their network was uncovered in the wake of these attempts, members of the terrorist group fled abroad, mostly to Europe. Germany and the Netherlands were among the “safe havens” they found. European countries were quick to grant asylum to FETÖ members who portrayed themselves as members of the so-called innocuous-sounding “Service (or Gülen) Movement.”
Explaining that Türkiye has also been fighting the PKK terrorist group for over 40 years, Gürlek emphasized that it is also recognized as a terrorist group by the European Union. “We see that our extradition requests regarding the PKK, just like those regarding FETÖ, have unfortunately not resulted positively.”
The minister also urged the Netherlands not to grant asylum or hand out residence permits to members of FETÖ and the PKK and consider reviewing permits already issued.
Gürlek recalled that Tuesday was the anniversary of the killing of prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz, a former colleague of his, by the terrorist group Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), noting that Musa Aşoğlu, a senior leader of the group, was among those Türkiye sought to extradite from the Netherlands. “Unfortunately, no positive step has been taken so far. We sincerely believe that the demands and important sensitivities we have expressed will also be reciprocated by the Dutch authorities,” he said.
In addition to the fight against terrorism, Gürlek noted that there are extradition agreements with many countries within the scope of judicial cooperation to combat other international crimes, especially drug trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking.
“Thanks to the simultaneous ‘Operation Cloud’ coordinated between the Netherlands and Türkiye last April, drug traffickers were captured. In this context, we expect that those identified as being in the Netherlands, who have arrest warrants issued against them for drug trafficking, will likewise be extradited to our country.”
Gürlek also emphasized that the presence of the Turkish community in the Netherlands, as well as the safety and well-being of citizens, is of particular importance. He stated that they are closely monitoring with concern the rise of racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia, especially in Western Europe.
Pointing out that such threats have been increasing recently, Gürlek stressed that they were saddened to learn that two Muslim women were subjected to police violence in the Netherlands at the end of January. He expressed their belief that necessary measures should be taken against such incidents.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) after the meeting, van Weel said Dutch-Turkish ties have been perfect, adding that they may cooperate more in counterterrorism and fight against organized crime. The minister said they had close ties with Türkiye in counterterrorism, reminding that the PKK and DHKP-C were recognized as terrorist groups by the Netherlands. “Counterterrorism cooperation contributes to the security of the two countries,” he said.
Turkish defense officials and industry executives gathered Wednesday at the 3rd Strategic Partnership Summit hosted by Turkish missile company Roketsan in Ankara.
The officials underlined that strengthening domestic production, supply-chain resilience and space-based capabilities has become increasingly critical to national security, as wars and geopolitical tensions reshape the nature of modern conflict and put new pressure on the global defense industry.
During the event, the head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), Haluk Görgün, and Roketsan CEO Murat Ikinci remarked that Türkiye’s defense sector must be able to sustain production, adapt quickly to battlefield needs and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
Speaking at the event, Görgün said countries now bring not only their military platforms and munitions to the battlefield, but also their logistics capacity and industrial ecosystems.
“For this reason, the defense industry has become a strategic field of power that directly reflects a nation’s warfighting capacity, resilience and continuity,” Görgün said.
He said recent conflicts have shown that warfare is undergoing a fundamental transformation, with land, air, sea, cyber and space domains increasingly integrated into a single operational environment.
According to Görgün, space-based systems are gaining importance by accelerating decision-making and improving coordination between units through communications, surveillance, positioning and time synchronization capabilities.
Görgün also noted modern conflicts increasingly favor munitions and platforms that can be produced quickly, replaced easily and deployed at lower cost. That, he said, has elevated the importance of serial production, continuity in manufacturing, stock planning, storage infrastructure and logistics architecture.
“Today’s defense industry architecture is shaped by real-time feedback from the field,” he stressed, adding that Türkiye’s gains in the sector stem from the strong link it has built between operational requirements and industrial production.
He described the strengthening of domestic and national capabilities as vital to national security and said Roketsan’s resilience through its supplier ecosystem had become an example for the wider sector.
Ikinci, speaking at the same summit, said Roketsan had reached a domestic sourcing level of 92%, helping insulate the company from global supply-chain shocks that have disrupted defense and civilian industries alike.
“We are affected by disruptions in the global supply chain,” Ikinci said. “But because we operate with a domestic value-added ratio above 90%, we are less affected than some other stakeholders or competitors.”
He said the company was continuing to invest heavily in alternative supply sources and local production to build a fully independent defense industrial base.
“The supply chain has taken a very serious blow right now,” Ikinci said. “There is difficulty across all industries in the world. But even in this environment, our ability to continue production is a major advantage for us.”
He said Türkiye’s broader defense ecosystem now meets much of the country’s military requirements domestically, describing the country as a stabilizing force in a volatile region.
He stated that Turkish authorities had launched a series of initiatives aimed at making companies more visible, effective and sustainable, including measures to increase the role of small and medium-sized enterprises, support financial stability, ease access to funding and assist firms in export agreements and contracts.
Expectations in Turkish defense
Moreover, Ikinci also drew attention to Roketsan reinvesting its revenue into infrastructure and serial production capacity, and he signaled that more announcements on expansion plans would be made public soon.
“Roketsan is investing all the money it earns into its infrastructure to increase serial production capacity,” he said.
He said the capacity increases would be seen across a wide range of missile systems, including the Tayfun ballistic missile, the SOM cruise missile, the Atmaca anti-ship missile, and the Siper and Hisar air defense systems.
Asked about the Siper-2 air defense missile, Ikinci said development work was continuing and that the system was expected to move toward serial production. He stated that Siper-2, designed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye’s defense research arm, TÜBITAK SAGE, would be among the most advanced missiles in the Siper family, with Roketsan expected to take part in production as an industrial partner.
He added that Turkish efforts to strengthen air defense capabilities were not limited to Siper and included all elements of the Steel Dome air defense concept, as well as the Hisar and Sungur families and other next-generation missile programs.
Ikinci said existing systems would continue to gain new sensors and added capabilities, and that new members would join the Siper family in the future.
Alongside Görgün and Ikinci, the event was attended by Roketsan Chairman Faruk Yiğit and a broad group of sector representatives, suppliers and experts.
The event continued with panel discussions featuring Olcay Elmalı Meço, director at Roketsan in charge of advanced materials and manufacturing technologies developments; Irfan Durmuş, director of the Rare Earth Elements Application and Research Center (MUNTEAM); Celal Erbay of the National Intelligence Academy; Saruhan Saklar of Türkiye’s General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration; Murat Eskici, Roketsan’s supply chain director; Aziz Meydan, chairperson of the board of HMS Machining company; Şenay Idil, general manager of Alp Aviation; and Ali Rıza Alptekin, head of the Defense and Aviation Group at Kale Group.
Key NATO ally Türkiye recently acknowledged plans for the establishment of a multinational corps headquarters. Another rumored plan for an additional NATO force for the Black Sea sparked speculation, especially about the status of the Montreaux Convention.
In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense said none would affect Türkiye’s stance on the convention, and they acted in accordance with the principle of regional ownership.
The ministry said recent reports regarding two issues stemmed from “mistakes on certain concepts and lack of knowledge.”
Responding to a question by journalists regarding NATO and non-NATO multinational naval headquarters and planned multinational corps headquarters in the southern city of Adana, the ministry said the naval headquarters was part of Türkiye’s basic strategy for the Black Sea.
“It is out of question to make concessions on the principle of regional ownership and the Montreaux Convention. Türkiye’s security approach on the Black Sea is based on the preservation of balance and stability provided by the Montreaux Convention, prioritizing littoral countries’ role in this regional ownership,” the ministry said.
The statement came one day after the Russian Embassy in Ankara posted a tweet about its support for Türkiye’s adherence to the convention, with an attached image of a news article about the signing of the convention in 1936.
Signed on July 20, 1936, at the Montreaux Palace in Switzerland, the convention gives Türkiye permission to remilitarize the Bosporus and Çanakkale Strait. It came into effect on Nov. 9, 1936, and was registered in the League of Nations Treaty Series on Dec. 11, 1936. It gives Türkiye control over the Bosporus and Çanakkale Strait and regulates the transit of naval warships. The convention guarantees free passage to civilian vessels in times of peace and restricts the passage of naval ships that do not belong to littoral Black Sea states.
The ministry noted that Türkiye’s stand on Montreaux ensured the Black Sea does not turn into a wider area of conflict.
“Throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Türkiye resolutely applied the convention and prevented the conflict from spilling over into the sea. Despite escalating geopolitical rivalries and security risks in the Black Sea, our country is committed to standing for preserving regional stability, de-escalation of tensions and assigning responsibility primarily to littoral countries for the security,” the statement said.
“Türkiye continues taking the initiative to prevent the Black Sea from turning into an area of competition and a leading role in maintaining regional security architecture,” the statement reiterated.
Türkiye recently hosted officials from the Coalition of Willing for Ukraine, and the ministry noted that the coalition, though multinational, was not linked to NATO. The statement said the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U) established by the coalition was planned to be commanded by an operational headquarters based in France.
“This force’s maritime command will be tasked with safeguarding security and stability, preserving the balance ensured by the Montreaux Convention. Our country will lead this command,” the ministry said, adding that the maritime command was composed entirely of Turkish personnel.
“Fourteen countries declared contribution to the Command, but only Türkiye, Romania and Bulgaria will be contributors of maritime platforms,” the ministry underlined.
The ministry also rejected claims that Israel was the culprit in the crash of a Turkish C-130 plane on the Azerbaijan-Georgia border in November 2025 that killed 20 Turkish soldiers. Doğu Perinçek, chair of the Homeland Party (VP), voiced the allegation this week. The ministry said the allegations were baseless and “disinformation,” and they filed for legal proceedings against the claims. The ministry noted that the investigation into the crash was still underway and its results would be shared with the public once it is concluded.
On Wednesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay also underlined that they were committed to the Montreaux Convention. Answering lawmakers’ questions at Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Bozay said they were always grateful to the statesmen of the past for the convention.
“We implement every regulation without violating the convention,” he said. Bozay said Türkiye sought to have full control over multinational headquarters and related matters. “You must be aware of developments in the Black Sea, detection of unmanned naval vehicles and incidents involving vessels. We are not pursuing an approach that would harm our security while remaining committed to our responsibilities stemming from being a NATO member,” he underlined.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday reiterated his criticism of Israel over the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, while he reiterated Türkiye’s intention to keep the nation out of the conflict and pursue mediation efforts.
Addressing the parliamentary group meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Ankara, Erdoğan said that the war, in its second month, was escalating in terms of threats.
“Our priority is that our country should come out of this stormy period without any incident. We are determined to keep Türkiye out of the fire. We are not falling for the traps of the opposition and manage this process in a cautious, balanced and rational manner,” he said.
The opposition adopted a more hawkish tone in the early days of the war and mostly called for siding with Iran while sending mixed signals about the “regime change” in Iran. The government has avoided a firebrand or one-sided approach so far, despite Türkiye seeing four missiles entering its airspace since the war began on Feb. 28. Ankara has never been harsh in its discourse toward Iran, and the missiles were intercepted by NATO’s defense systems. Instead, Türkiye has been keen on playing the role of mediator as it did in the other conflicts in the region and beyond.
Erdoğan reminded that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan joined a quadrilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan to discuss steps to stop the war. He said Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın were also exerting efforts to that extent.
Stating that Türkiye’s stance is clear and that they consider it their duty to do whatever is necessary without hesitation to ensure peace prevails in the region, Erdoğan said: “If there is even an iota of hope for stopping the bloodshed, ending the tears, silencing the guns and resolving problems through diplomacy, it is our duty of honor to pursue it. Since the beginning of the war, Türkiye’s principled stance, attitude and the messages it has given to the world and the region have been the voice of humanity and conscience.”
He said that they sincerely desire an immediate end to the suffering of brotherly and friendly countries.
“Among the primary dangers awaiting our region is the risk of the war prolonging and turning into a regional civil conflict. Unfortunately, retaliations targeting energy, transportation and civilian infrastructure increase this possibility. The primary party responsible for this unlawful war, which not only turns our region into a place of fire but also places a very heavy economic burden on the shoulders of all humanity, is the Israeli government, which is addicted to conflict, chaos and crisis. Every development that causes the war to continue by opening new fronts will serve Israel’s bloody strategy and cause our region to lose. It must not be forgotten that every drop of blood shed in the war will be the ‘water of life’ that extends Netanyahu’s political lifespan.”
Expressing that a war with Iran clearly does not serve the vision of global peace, but instead sabotages and jeopardizes it, Erdoğan said diplomacy, dialogue and compromise were keys to overcoming it.
“Reason, conscience, international law, justice and equity require this. Our hope is for common sense to prevail, thereby opening the path to peace without further bloodshed,” he stated.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
-
Daily Agenda1 day agoSümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar: Women are now an important part of the development vision
-
Economy10 hours agoWorld scrambles to reopen Hormuz as Trump, Iran trade threats
-
Daily Agenda1 day agoSON DAKİKA… AK Parti Sözcüsü Ömer Çelik: Bölge büyük kaosun içine çekiliyor
-
Economy20 hours agoTurkish exports down in March amid Eid, calendar base, war impact
-
Daily Agenda1 day agoMinister Gürlek’s call for cooperation to the Netherlands: “We have an extradition request for 217 FETO members and 8 PKK members.”
-
Daily Agenda20 hours agoİmamoğlu’s expert claims turned out to be unfounded
-
Economy19 hours agoCentral banks’ dilemma: How to respond to another energy shock
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoMurat Kalaç, who was in the yellow category and was dismissed from duty after July 15, was caught