Türkiye's Public Diplomacy Ecosystem

Public diplomacy is relatively a new field of practice and scholarship. As argued by many scholars, the realm of public diplomacy constitutes one of the most multidisciplinary concepts in the related scholarship. As already witnessed in its practices of a rather diversified manner, various disciplines have been utilized to offer workable theoretical and conceptual frameworks to public diplomacy. Building on this peculiarity, it has become an efficient tool to contribute to what is sought with it. Nevertheless, it is also argued that public diplomacy has mostly been mixed confusedly with other instruments, such as propaganda, public relations (PR), or psychological warfare. This derives from the fact that public diplomacy is in practice implemented for different purposes. Given all this, both scholars in academia and practitioners working in the related fields have sought to provide a variety of definitions of public diplomacy depending on its diverse purposes.

In view of the foregoing, this chapter aims to focus on the concept as an instrument of foreign policy aimed at facilitating inter alia common perspectives and preventing misunderstanding among states. This indeed constitutes an urgent need for joint or at least concerted efforts which are increasingly felt for peace, security, stability, and prosperity, at both regional and global levels, under the current circumstances in the world affairs. Here, the chapter argues that public diplomacy can be instrumental in contributing to this quest. In this context, given its emphasis on socio-psychological and ideational factors which are predominantly influential in public diplomacy, without rejecting the realist parameters ruling the foreign polices of states, social constructivism as a theoretical tool can provide useful inputs to this role of public diplomacy as a foreign policy instrument. Based on this discussion the chapter ends with a proposal for Turkish foreign policy to utilize public diplomacy more in the Organization of Turkic States to promote common understanding among member and observer states as a means to foster inter-state relations.

Türkiye’s global destination brand emphasizes its unique position as a crossroads of cultures, a hub of modernity and innovation, and a country rich in ancient history, modern infrastructure, and natural beauty. Istanbul, whose Bosphorus Strait waterway connects Asia with Europe, was the home capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires. By promoting its diverse attractions and strengths across history, culture, economy, education, and diplomacy, Türkiye can strengthen its positive image on the global destination stage.

The discipline of international relations has witnessed the implementation of different methods to establish diplomatic relations with the introduction of the concept of public diplomacy in 1965. As a distinct approach to foreign policy implementation, public diplomacy has resulted in significant alterations to the institutional structures of diplomatic institutions across the globe. In 2010, the government of Türkiye established the Public Diplomacy Coordinator’s Office within the Prime Ministry to direct and manage public diplomacy practices from a single centre. Subsequently, in 2018, it was repositioned as the Department of Public Diplomacy within the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications, which was established and commenced operations in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 14, published in the Official Gazette dated July 24, 2018. This recently established department has assumed a coordinating role in the implementation of Türkiye’s public diplomacy activities. This study puts a spotlight on the institutions of Türkiye that are involved in the implementation of the country’s public diplomacy activities. The question of how Türkiye positions its diverse public diplomacy institutions as actors is addressed. In this regard, these institutions’ specific roles and missions in public diplomacy practices and their contributions to overall foreign policy objectives are highlighted.

As the US-led world order faces unprecedented crises and shifts toward multipolarity, Türkiye, under President Erdoğan’s leadership, has adjusted its foreign policy to assert itself as an important global actor. This chapter analyzes the significant role of President Erdoğan’s leadership in shaping Türkiye’s public diplomacy efforts. It provides an analysis of four aspects of Erdoğan’s vision for Türkiye’s public diplomacy: institutionalization, a human-centered approach, the determined struggle for truth, and nation branding. These components serve as the cornerstone of Erdoğan’s strategy to elevate Türkiye’s status as a proactive, trustworthy, and impactful player on the international stage. To provide a comprehensive understanding of this vision, the study first analyzes the conceptual framework of public diplomacy before examining the specific aspects of Erdoğan’s approach.

In the current era of migration, migrants forming large groups in the countries of origin have made it possible to intensify the relations between their country of origin and their new homeland. Political, economic, and cultural relations drive rapprochement between the sending and destination countries. In addition to the efforts of the transnational communities, which are usually employed as synonyms for “diaspora”, it is perceived that the countries concerned also make efforts to serve mutual understanding and peace through track-2 diplomacy methods. In this framework, the extent to which “diaspora diplomacy” can be successful is discussed by considering the theoretical infrastructure of the field, which has not yet been very clear in the context of international relations and current practices.

Türkiye’s recognition of the value of diaspora diplomacy within its public diplomacy ecosystem is relatively new. In the context of its migration policies, Türkiye has started to evaluate its approach, which is based on ensuring that Turkish migrants do not assimilate, through institutional and legislative initiatives in recent years.

Given the complexity and depth of the issue, a comprehensive approach to understanding the current state of diaspora diplomacy within the Turkish public diplomacy ecosystem, the challenges it faces, and the future course it should follow is not just necessary but urgent. This chapter attempts to contribute to understanding the value of Turkish “diaspora diplomacy” as a public diplomacy tool.

In today’s complex global environment, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Türkiye, traditionally recognized as middle powers, strategically employ public diplomacy to redefine their national identities and enhance their international influence. Türkiye’s “The Century of Türkiye” and the Republic of Korea’s “Global Pivotal State” are slogans representing the ambitions of both countries in this regard. This chapter provides a comparative analysis of how each country’s foreign policy is shaped by the strategic use of public diplomacy, aiming to be seen as a more powerful nation rather than just a middle power.

This chapter compares and underscores the pivotal role of public diplomacy in the foreign policies of South Korea and Türkiye in navigating today’s complex geopolitical landscapes. It accentuates the necessity for strategic adaptation, cultural engagement, and collaboration as key tools for South Korea and Türkiye to maintain and enhance their positions in a rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive global order.

Public diplomacy is defined commitment to promote the national interest and public policy agenda of a state mainly through actions aiming to raise awareness among public opinion and society of other states. Indeed, according to Nye (2004) the presentation and promotion of culture are all soft power elements in the attempt of creating a positive perception of a specific state. Public diplomacy is therefore articulated and multifaceted because it pivots on adequate communication, effective dissemination of information and diffusion of positive awareness regarding a specific country. In this regard, by encompassing many sectors and subgroups public diplomacy is strictly related to cultural diplomacy. International education exchange also falls within this framework. As promotion of national interest, exchange diplomacy has been largely implemented in many countries, overall, in recent times. Hence, this chapter aims at analyzing the peculiarities of exchange diplomacy experiences by analyzing the case of Türkiye and Italy and their model of foreign students’ attraction, also in the frame of their peculiar bilateral relations, since they share many cultural and historical complementarities.

This chapter explores the middle power cooperation between Türkiye and South Korea in the realm of public diplomacy, focusing on Türkiye’s Asia Anew Initiative. Both Türkiye and Korea, as middle powers, utilize their historical, cultural, and geopolitical advantages to enhance their influence on the global stage. The chapter emphasizes the deep-rooted historical and cultural connections between the two nations, particularly their “blood brothers” relationship formed during the Korean War and their shared Altaic heritage. These connections serve as a foundation for bilateral cooperation in cultural diplomacy, niche diplomacy, and multilateral engagement.

The study highlights how Tükiye’s Asia Anew Initiative offers new opportunities for collaboration with Korea, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. It addresses Türkiye’s limitations in economic and diplomatic engagement with Asia, suggesting that partnerships with Korea could help overcome these challenges. The chapter further examines the role of public diplomacy in middle power strategies, discussing how Türkiye and Korea can leverage cultural, technological, and educational exchanges to enhance their soft power in the region.

By focusing on niche diplomacy, Türkiye and Korea can maximize their influence in specific areas, such as media collaboration, academic exchanges, and peacekeeping initiatives. The chapter concludes by outlining the potential for Türkiye and Korea to deepen their cooperation in public diplomacy, thereby expanding their roles as influential middle powers in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

The Balkans today refers to a region covering an area of 904,237 square kilometers, with a population of over 70 million, consisting of 13 countries and an economic capacity exceeding 1.2 trillion dollars. Due to its geographical location, economic capacity and potential, young population, and its role as a bridge between Asia and Europe both in terms of land and as a hub for trade and energy transit, the region holds geostrategic significance for many actors in international relations. Currently, the region is home to over 1 million Turks and more than 10 million Muslims, and there are strong cultural, historical, political, and economic ties between these communities and Türkiye. This study aims to analyze Türkiye’s public diplomacy policies and practices toward the Balkans from the perspective of smart power theory. The study will seek an answer to the question “Which strategies constitute Türkiye’s public diplomacy policies and practices towards the Balkans and are these policies and practices in line with the smart power concept?” The study concludes, firstly, that due to factors such as public diplomacy institutions and activities, the effective use of diplomatic mechanisms between leaders, investments in the region through public-private partnerships, and the increase in foreign trade volume, Türkiye’s power and influence in the region have visibly increased. Secondly, when analyzed according to the ten methods found in the literature on smart power, it has been determined that these policies and practices do not fully align with a comprehensive smart power concept.

As the world stepped into 2024 with renewed optimism, the Horn of Africa found itself entangled in fresh uncertainty following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on January 1 between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and former Somaliland leader Muse Bihi. This MoU disrupted the region’s delicate equilibrium, reigniting historical tensions and diverting the attention of key stakeholders from their strategic priorities. However, in the months that followed, both parties, under Türkiye’s mediation, publicly committed to a peaceful resolution, pledging to avoid military confrontation.

Within the Türkiye-Somalia-Ethiopia diplomatic triangle, Turkish policymakers effectively managed the dissemination of information, ensuring that negotiating parties and global audiences received a clear and coherent account of the mediation process. Turkish media played a pivotal role in providing real-time, transparent coverage, reinforcing Türkiye’s credibility as a mediator. However, the process also revealed a glaring challenge—in Somalia context, unverified local media reports and rampant misinformation often eclipsed factual reporting, fueling public unrest and distorting the intended narrative.

This chapter contends that, as exemplified by the Ankara Declaration, the success of public diplomacy is not solely contingent on the effectiveness of the mediating country’s strategies. Rather, it is equally dependent on the resilience and credibility of the host country’s media ecosystem. If local media remain structurally weak and lack the necessary regulatory safeguards, even the most well-executed public diplomacy initiatives risk being subverted by misinformation campaigns. Drawing insights from the Somali case, this study underscores the need for investments in media capacity-building and regulatory frameworks in partner countries to ensure that public diplomacy efforts are not only effectively communicated but also protected against narrative manipulation. By examining the intersection of public diplomacy, media governance, and strategic communication in fragile states, this research contributes to a broader understanding of how information ecosystems shape the success or failure of international diplomatic engagements.

Public diplomacy involves the strategic use of communication to influence foreign publics and enhance a nation’s soft power. It is an important mechanism used in modern diplomacy. Türkiye has recently expanded its public diplomacy institutions and tools utilizing international broadcasting, educational exchange programs, and various cultural diplomacy activities. Building on this foundation, this chapter begins by defining key concepts like public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and nation-branding. It distinguishes public diplomacy from propaganda, emphasizing transparency, mutual engagement, and the importance of building long-term relationships. The chapter highlights the role of these modern diplomatic mechanisms in foreign policy and in boosting soft power. Another central theme of this chapter is the role of research-informed and empircally grounded knowledge production in enhancing public diplomacy efforts. Real-time data allows states to better anticipate global trends and respond to crises with greater potential for precision. The chapter concludes with an evaluation of Türkiye’s public diplomacy initiatives, analyzing how the country has utilized these tools in recent years. It identifies areas where Türkiye could further enhance its efforts, particularly by incorporating more research informed approaches into its strategic communication. This discussion highlights the broader implications of Türkiye’s public diplomacy practices for its foreign policy and its standing as a middle power in the global system.

The relationship-building discourse of public diplomacy is one of its most important objectives. While short-term informational activities instantly influence the public opinion of foreign states to support our policies, there is a need for long-term and strategic practices that have the potential for success for years to come. Therefore, as Joseph Nye’s definition of soft power suggests, it is essential to strategically prioritize practices based on culture and values in public diplomacy practices. The patience and persistence in long-term communication activities to be carried out through cultural diplomacy practices will be more effective in laying the foundation for future years in building and maintaining the relations of states with foreign peoples.

Cultural diplomacy is not just about introducing a cultural benefit to the target audience, it’s about sparking a transformation. Its aim is to engage the target audience with the ideas perceived in the way the producer wants to be represented (Fisher, A. (2009). Four seasons in one day. In N. Snow & P. M. Taylor (Eds.), Handbook of public diplomacy (pp. 251–261). Routledge.). The messages of cultural diplomacy to the target audience will not only pique their interest in that culture but also allow them to approach political messages from it positively in the future. Cultural relations is the best way to change negative and inaccurate stereotypes that have profound effects and are more credible than other forms of reputation management (Szondi, G. (2008). Public diplomacy and nation branding: Conceptual similarities and differences. Discussion Papers in Diplomacy. Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael.).

Within the scope of the study, Türkiye’s tools for language teaching and education that it uses effectively in cultural diplomacy will be analyzed. In this direction, Türkiye Scholarships, a program that offers scholarships to international students, and Yunus Emre Institute’s activities, which include Turkish language courses and cultural events, will be analyzed using the qualitative case analysis method.

Nation branding involves strategically promoting a country’s cultural, economic and social values to create a positive global image, crucial for competitive international relations and economic growth. Recent advancements in health tourism have significantly enhanced Türkiye’s international recognition and health sector branding. Türkiye attracts attention with its ability to offer high-quality medical services at affordable costs.

Information systems ICTs are key to enhancing Türkiye’s nation brand in the health sector. The ICTs of healthcare, secure patient data management and remote diagnosis set Türkiye apart in health tourism. Advanced ICTs infrastructure allows for high-quality, accessible healthcare, while AI and big data aid in early diagnosis and personalised treatments.

HealthTürkiye is central to Türkiye’s nation branding in healthcare, promoting its healthcare quality and capacity globally. The platform connects healthcare providers with international patients, showcasing modern facilities, specialised doctors, affordable treatments and advanced technologies. By highlighting digitalised and efficient services, HealthTürkiye strengthens Türkiye’s reputation as a trusted health tourism destination and enhances its global positioning.

Public diplomacy is used by governments to significantly enhance their capability to maintain national unity and integrity as well as to advance their foreign policy objectives by cultivating a favorable environment among foreign peoples. In conflictual situations where military force is used, it is important to create an impact in a short time to promote national interests by informing and influencing the public. This chapter will first introduce the fundamental tenets of public diplomacy to offer a conceptual framework to better understand its use during military conflicts. It will then explore the implementation of public diplomacy instruments by Turkish government during the “Operation Peace Spring”, which was launched in October 2019. The chapter will also assess the performance of Turkish public diplomacy in the face of the extent of criticism leveled against Türkiye from around the world, including allied countries and international organizations.

The primary purpose of this chapter is to examine how Türkiye’s mediation role through the Black Sea Grain Initiative has become a public diplomacy tool in ensuring the sustainability of global food security. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ensured the export of approximately 32.9 million tons of food from Ukraine between 2022 and 2023, with the mediation of Türkiye and the United Nations (UN). In addition to its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership and relationships with Russia, Türkiye’s control of the straits leading to the Black Sea required its active participation to reach such an agreement. What made solving the food crisis important compared to other problems? The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) underlines the need to meet four criteria (availability, access, utilisation, and stability) to address food security, one of humanity’s necessities. However, in recent years, the global food chain has been seriously affected due to economic problems, climate change, COVID-19, and the Russo-Ukrainian War, causing extreme insecurity, particularly in countries that depend on food imports. The war exacerbated the upward trend in global food prices, which had already begun following the pandemic. The fact that Ukraine, one of the world’s highest grain exporters, was unable to use the sea route, and Russia’s freeze of food shipments, posed a huge risk to countries that rely on imports and require humanitarian assistance. In this sense, the Black Sea Grain Initiative aimed at preventing the rise in hunger and food prices. The Russo-Ukrainian War has a negative impact on international politics in many ways. The food crisis that developed due to the war resonated in international politics at least as much as the war, and the international community, including Russia and Ukraine, was able to find common ground for its solution. This study will concentrate on the role of mediation in international law, as well as Türkiye’s portrayal in international press and at the United Nations.

This chapter examines the intersection of intelligence and foreign policy, with a focus on Türkiye’s experiences. It explores how intelligence failures and politicization impact national security and policymaking. Emphasizing the role of time constraints, organizational challenges, and cognitive biases, the analysis highlights the dual nature of politicization: both detrimental and beneficial. Positive politicization, where intelligence supports policy while maintaining impartiality, is crucial for effective foreign policy. Through the lens of Türkiye, the study illustrates how intelligence diplomacy—integrating intelligence insights into diplomatic efforts—can enhance strategic decision-making and contribute foreign policy outcomes.

Türkiye has been making efforts for years to create points for the cross-border communities through foreign aid and humanitarian sensibility. Türkiye believes that foreign aid and humanitarian sensibility are important for promoting cultural interactions and unity, and it incorporates these principles into its international policies. In an attempt to gain global recognition for its policies, Türkiye undertakes various goodwill initiatives and chooses peaceful dialogue as a means to establish genuine relationships. In the context of security, Türkiye aims to create channels of communication that can have interconnected impacts on foreign populations, other countries, and non-state entities. These channels will be established through initiatives that address the needs of communities and also set a precedent for reshaping global dynamics. Türkiye also views foreign aid and humanitarian sensibility as a moral obligation and cultural solidarity and avails itself of foreign aid and humanitarian sensibility to safeguard its global security and carve out a role in international relations. Touted as an instrument of global interaction as part of the foreign policy of Türkiye, foreign aid and humanitarian sensibility serve to block disagreements from growing into conflicts. Foreign aid and humanitarian sensibility serve as an informed responsibility of Türkiye in its public diplomacy, expanding the natural bounds of cultural processes and propelling national security through social solidarity. Remaining responsive to international challenges and trying to build large-scale relations to promote international cooperation and stability, Türkiye links foreign aid, humanitarian sensibility, and security to one another in a balance of power and makes efforts to forge a political order with dependence opportune for itself.

This chapter explores the challenges of practicing journalism within public broadcasting organizations. For decades, the international news landscape has been dominated by Western networks, whose framing has shaped global perceptions of news and events. Many nations and their representatives have felt that their issues were not fairly represented, which negatively affected their global standing. In response, those who felt underrepresented or silenced by biased international news organizations began investing in media outlets to reach a global audience and ensure their voices were heard. This convergence of public diplomacy and journalism presents unique challenges, as many international journalists strive to balance their professional ethics with the demands of their sponsors. Türkiye has been navigating this complex landscape in its own way.

Public diplomacy activities frequently highlight the significant role of the media. It is often stated that news agencies, like other media organizations, have substantial impacts on disseminating these activities. However, in the literature, it is frequently overlooked that news agencies are not merely passive entities that disseminate public diplomacy activities, but they also actively participate in and produce these activities. Regional and international news agency associations operating globally not only strengthen communication among news agencies but also engage directly in public diplomacy activities, thereby enhancing the role of the media in public diplomacy. This study will examine the role of news agency associations in the production of Türkiye’s public diplomacy activities through the world news agency associations. To this end, the study will explore how Türkiye’s public diplomacy is produced and circulated from the perspective of news agencies through the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies, the Association of Balkan News Agencies–Southeast Europe, and the Alliance of Turkic News Agencies with the initiatives of Anadolu Ajansı. The aim of this study is to contribute to the understanding of news agencies not merely as passive intermediaries reporting public diplomacy activities but as active participants and essential elements of public diplomacy efforts.

From the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East to the war between Russia and Ukraine, and from civil wars in Africa to the turmoil in the Pacific region, we currently witness how potential and actual conflicts threaten humanity. Seizing this opportunity, global powers eagerly meet the needs of countries entering the arms race, continuing to fuel this chaotic environment. One piece of evidence of this is the alarming increase in the number of conflicts and crises in the past few years, each leaving behind a trail of destruction and human tragedy. Lost lives, people forced to migrate, fragmented societies, and uncertain futures stand before us as the bitter realities of today’s world.

In the realm of current global politics, which is partly dominated by coercive power, we see that although disagreements and regional conflicts prevail, the effects of soft power activities are also beginning to increase. In this context, public diplomacy, used by states as a soft power tool, emerges as an important factor in reducing conflicts and competition. Notably, gastrodiplomacy—an influential aspect of public diplomacy—is becoming increasingly prominent among soft power tools day by day.

Gastrodiplomacy can be defined as the use of a country’s cuisine, to positively influence the perceptions of other nations, enhance the country’s image and promotion, and ultimately increase its global recognition. Although there are many methods to showcase a country’s culture, using its culinary culture stands out as one of the most effective tools. Culinary culture is also utilized by governments as a strategy development tool in cultural diplomacy. In this chapter, we will explore the importance of gastrodiplomacy and specifically examine the historical development of gastrodiplomacy practices in Türkiye up to the present day. We will illustrate with examples how gastrodiplomacy is an important element of soft power in Türkiye’s foreign policy.

In the last two decades, Türkiye has become one of the leading countries in terms of the prevalence and impact of public and educational diplomacy. Before establishing the Turkish Maarif Foundation (TMF), Türkiye’s educational diplomacy focused on non-formal education activities, such as teaching the Turkish language and culture and offering scholarships to international students to pursue studies in Türkiye. With the TMF, Türkiye opened state-owned international schools for the first time, providing formal education services abroad.

This chapter focuses on the contribution of the TMF to Türkiye’s education diplomacy ecosystem. It explains that TMF provides Turkish language and culture through its self-developed formal education curriculum at all levels of education, from preschool to higher education. It also highlights how, in just eight years since its establishment, TMF’s educational institutions have rapidly expanded globally and how, as a result, TMF’s educational diplomacy has deepened and institutionalized. It also examines how, through its international schools, TMF has raised well-educated political, business, and intellectual elites sympathetic to Türkiye. Furthermore, TMF has empowered Türkiye to engage actively in the global education market.

Public diplomacy emerged as an important diplomatic practice in international relations around 1965. Although this form of diplomacy had existed earlier, it was only then recognised as a distinct model. The proliferation of public diplomacy practices in the world is indicative of the post-Cold War period. In this period, when hard power practices were replaced by soft power parameters, cultural studies increased and ideas and thoughts were used to elicit sympathy from foreign publics. From this perspective, states have moved away from using traditional diplomatic actors as sole implementers. New actors such as non-governmental organisations, think tanks, universities, academics, citizens, businessmen, artists, sportsmen, etc. have been used. First ladies are undoubtedly among these actors. Today, first ladies are seen as actors who play an important role in the objectives that many states seek to achieve. The aim of this study is to analyse whether or not first ladies are involved in public diplomacy processes and, if so, how they participate in this process.

While research on first ladies’ involvement in public diplomacy is limited, this study shows that first ladies perform a diplomatic function through their roles such as country promotion, nation branding, etc. rather than a traditional role or political stance. The main questions of the research are whether first ladies participate in public diplomacy activities and, if so, in which areas and directions they participate. To answer these questions, this study presents an exploratory case study of the role and activities of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, wife of the 12th President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. From this perspective, this study aims to introduce the model of “first lady public diplomacy” to the international relations literature.

The second century of the Republic of Türkiye has been restructured with a new strategic communication model centered around a new development goal. This new communication model encompasses diplomatically designed activities that strategically project the narrative of a strong Türkiye to the international public. The increasing influence of the economy on political decisions, and thus the expanding impact of the economy on diplomacy, is drawing the relationship between public diplomacy and economic diplomacy closer. In this perspective, with the advantages derived from its operational area and organizational structure, the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT) represents Türkiye in the majority of its intensive economic diplomacy activities as the sole point of contact in relevant international platforms. The diversity of platforms provides a significant opportunity in terms of the breadth of diplomatic channels. The existing advantages and opportunities indicate the extensive potential of the CBRT in managing economic diplomacy activities that are in harmony with the communication codes of public diplomacy. This study discusses the capability of economic diplomacy to act in concert with public diplomacy within a common framework as an element of soft power. The discussion evaluates the alignment of the CBRT with public diplomacy objectives based on the CBRT’s potential to conduct economic diplomacy.

This chapter will examine Türkiye’s Green Diplomacy as a strategic component of its soft power approach aimed at building a positive international image, fostering goodwill, and enhancing its influence through environmental sustainability efforts. By integrating green initiatives into its soft power strategy, Türkiye not only will address critical global challenges but will also strengthen its standing and appeal on the world stage.

We first examine domestic policy milestones put in place, such as Zero Waste, followed by bilateral engagements, with Greece, Egypt, and Libya, such as Green Pipeline Diplomacy, Green Energy Diplomacy, Green-Blue Diplomacy, and Green Disaster Diplomacy, followed by multilateral efforts, such as in NATO, with Green Defense Diplomacy and with the UNFCC and finally in Green Finance Diplomacy.