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 u