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This blog series is a collection of authored thought pieces that I have written to explore how Türkiye is positioning itself as a key player in international affairs.
Each entry is inspired by speeches, articles, and reflections from Turkish leaders in areas such as finance, trade, science and technology, climate policy, and energy strategy. Rather than simply summarizing, I engage with these sources critically and add my own reflections as a student of international relations.
By weaving together leader insights with my own analysis, I hope to highlight how Türkiye’s policies and partnerships are not only shaping its own future, but also contributing to regional stability and global cooperation. This series is both a learning journey and a way to share my perspective on the interconnectedness of economics, diplomacy, and culture in today’s world. My goal is to spark interest and conversation, while also giving readers a glimpse of how one student sees Türkiye’s place in international relations.
Trade Diplomacy Beyond Economics: How Türkiye Builds Strategic Partnerships Through Commerce
For a long time, I used to think of trade as numbers on a balance sheet. It was just imports and exports. A series of economic exchanges that felt removed from, what seemed to me at least, the far more intriguing human and political dimensions of international relations. This changed after I began to explore International Relations in more depth, as I began to understand that trade can act as a language that determines trust, as well as the nature of long-term collaborations
Melisa Faralyali
Dec 1, 20252 min read
Norm-Shaping Diplomacy: How Türkiye Engages with Global Rules and Institutions
When it comes to diplomacy, interactions among officials can often be framed as ‘superficial’, as if they are hiding the true cloak-and-dagger nature of elite meetings and closed-door negotiations. However, the more I study international relations, the more I realize that true global collaboration comes through a mutual respect for shared rules and agreements. This is the lens I have begun to implement when exploring Türkiye’s diplomacy. Instead of focusing on how to use forc
Melisa Faralyali
Nov 7, 20252 min read
Middle Powers in a Multipolar World: Türkiye’s Approach to Strategic Balance
Browsing news articles on social media, I’m hearing more and more about a “new world order”, with mixed reactions to the phrase. Some find it controversial and alarmist, with others welcoming the change, coining it to reflect a need for change in a transitional era, but both parties are in agreement that the global world power is no longer dominated by a single actor, bringing us to the concept of a multipolar world. Multipolarity is the idea that power no longer resides wit
Melisa Faralyali
Oct 5, 20252 min read
Public Diplomacy in the Digital Age: How Türkiye Communicates with Global Audiences
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, there is an equal increase in demand for transparency. Most countries have dedicated channels that broadcast government proceedings, like the BBC Parliament in the UK, C-Span in the US, and TBMM TV in Türkiye. Coming into the digital age, these channels began streaming online on all social media platforms. This paints a picture of what diplomacy means for the current generation; how governments, including Türkiye, are quickly
Melisa Faralyali
Sep 6, 20252 min read
Humanitarian Diplomacy in Action: How Türkiye’s Global Aid Strengthens Its International Standing
When I think about diplomacy, I often imagine negotiations and treaties. But Türkiye’s humanitarian actions remind me that compassion itself can be a diplomatic tool. I’m speaking of humanitarian diplomacy - using aid, relief, and development assistance to foster goodwill and international partnerships. It emphasizes negotiation and advocacy, not for strategic advantage, but for the betterment of human lives. Today, we’ll look at how Türkiye’s humanitarian response in Sudan i
Melisa Faralyali
Aug 1, 20253 min read
Soft Power on Screen: The Global Reach of Turkish Television
Growing up, I often noticed how people abroad spoke about Türkiye not through politics, but our TV shows. Series like Diriliş: Ertuğrul , Magnificent Century , and Fatmagül’ün Suçu Ne? are streamed in dozens of countries, from Pakistan, Russia, and even on Netflix in the US! In the same way as popular sitcoms shaped the global perspective of American culture, TV shows have become more than entertainment; they are instruments of soft power. Our Turkish shows have become diplo
Melisa Faralyali
Jul 1, 20253 min read
Science and Innovation Diplomacy: Türkiye’s Global Collaboration in Research and Technology
As a Turkish student studying abroad, I’ve always been fascinated by how countries use innovation and research not only to advance technology but also to build bridges across borders. Today, I would like to delve into how science and innovation can also be methods for diplomacy; how collaboration through research can strengthen international relations and trust. A recent example of this in action is Türkiye’s collaboration with the Research Council of Norway through TÜBİTAK,
Melisa Faralyali
Jun 1, 20252 min read
Cultural Diplomacy: Türkiye’s Global Influence through Education and Exchanges
Today, nations are putting increasing emphasis on culture, education, and cultural exchange as tools of diplomacy. Milton C. Cummings (2003) defines cultural diplomacy as the exchange of ideas, information, art, and other aspects of culture among nations and their people to foster mutual understanding. This is the true art of diplomacy, applied by great civilizations all over the world from the dawn of time. This is, in my opinion, a much more effective means of cooperation c
Melisa Faralyali
May 1, 20252 min read
Infrastructure Diplomacy: Türkiye’s Emerging Role as a Regional Connectivity Hub
Ever looked at Türkiye on a map? If you do, you’ll see that we are a literal bridge between Europe and Asia. You cannot drive from Armenia to Bulgaria without passing through Türkiye. And not only do we connect the East to the West, but we are now involved in connecting neighbouring countries to each other . Recently, in August 2025, Azerbaijan and Armenia brokered a peace accord aided by the US, and Türkiye has pledged involvement and support through a corridor project link
Melisa Faralyali
Apr 1, 20253 min read
Energy Diplomacy through Diversification: How Turkey Strengthens Global Energy Security
Rising domestic demand and shifting global supply chains have pushed Turkey to rethink its energy playbook. Turkey’s geographical location has made it a key bridge between producers in the East and the consumers in the West, specifically Europe. But according to this article, Ankara’s LNG diversification strategy is more than an energy solution—it’s diplomacy, showing how energy choices can reshape Turkey’s role in the world. Turkey will now be sourcing LNG from the U.S., A
Melisa Faralyali
Mar 1, 20252 min read
Climate Diplomacy as Leadership: Türkiye’s COP31 Bid and Its Global Significance
Turkey’s Deputy Minister Fatma Varank just announced Turkey’s decision to host COP31 in front of world leaders at the UN climate preparatory sessions held in Bonn, Germany this June. After making strategic diplomatic moves in economics, technology, and business,Turkey is ready to jump into the space of climate conversations and position itself as a global leader who is ready to take charge and even set the agenda. Minister Varank detailed in her speech how environmental goals
Melisa Faralyali
Feb 1, 20252 min read
Economic Diplomacy in Practice: DEİK’s Strategic Roadmap for Turkey–Germany Integration
The post-pandemic world left the rules of economics changed invariably. Resilience in a globalized world has to be reinvented, and so it was necessary for nations to build creative and cooperative partnerships across borders. And it is for this reason that DEiK’s strategic roadmap for Turkey-Germany feels all the more relevant, because it is not simply a business trade, but a strategic tool to show diplomacy can be reimagined through economics. This move becomes a blueprint o
Melisa Faralyali
Jan 1, 20252 min read
Technology Diplomacy: Türkiye’s National Technology Move as a Strategy for Global Influence”
Who would have thought that technology would be considered a part of diplomacy one day? But well, modern times, isn’t it? To me, technology was always about the mobiles, internet, social media, websites, etc, but never the way a nation represents itself internationally. Türkiye is now setting its foot on a global stage, and is no longer seen only as a bridge between East and West. Positioning itself as a player in the strong technological competition that is shaping internati
Melisa Faralyali
Dec 1, 20242 min read
Driving Economic Transformation Insights from Turkey’s Finance Ministry
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how different leaders are shaping Turkey’s role in the world. Every speech and policy decision feels like part of a bigger story about who we’re becoming. I listened to Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek just a couple of days ago, and was moved by his remarks. Up until that point, I felt economics was far away, simply percentages and figures that meant nothing. But as soon as he started talking about the government's plans, I knew it was differen
Melisa Faralyali
Nov 1, 20242 min read
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