Turkish Foreign Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy
Summary
Turkish foreign policy has in recent decades evolved into a complex blend of strategic pragmatism and normative outreach, with humanitarian diplomacy emerging as one of its most visible instruments. Anchored in a revival of Ottoman-era cultural ties and framed as a moral responsibility, Ankara’s humanitarian endeavours encompass emergency relief, reconstruction projects and long-term development assistance across the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. State bodies and affiliated agencies coordinate large-scale operations in crisis zones such as Syria, Libya and Somalia, while health, education and infrastructure initiatives consolidate Turkey’s image as a provider of stability and solidarity. Simultaneously, Turkey balances its Western alignments—most notably its NATO membership and longstanding engagement with the European Union—against a more assertive regional stance that leverages soft power, diaspora networks and refugee-support services. This dual approach seeks both to address immediate humanitarian needs and to reinforce Turkey’s claim to normative leadership, often articulated in terms of moral superiority and civilisational legacy. The resulting foreign policy framework has significant implications for regional dynamics, shaping responses to migration flows, contestation over influence in the Red Sea corridor and broader debates on the role of middle powers in global governance.
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Turkish Foreign Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in turkish foreign policy and humanitarian diplomacy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Humanitarian Diplomacy: The practice of employing negotiation, advocacy and relief operations within foreign policy to secure humanitarian objectives and protect vulnerable populations.
Civilisational Exceptionalism: The claim that a state’s unique historical and cultural legacy confers a distinct moral authority and leadership role in international affairs.
Geocultural Power: The mobilisation of shared cultural, linguistic or historical ties as a form of influence to advance foreign policy goals in specific regions.
Soft Power: The capacity to shape the preferences of other actors through appeal and attraction—rather than coercion or payment—using culture, values and policies.
References
- Civilizational exceptionalism in international affairs: making sense of Indian and Turkish claims. International Affairs (2023).
- TURKISH-SOMALI RELATIONS: CHANGING STATE IDENTITY AND FOREIGN POLICY. Inquiry (2017).
- Geocultural Power in the Red Sea Region. Foreign Policy Analysis (2025).
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