Türkiye : Diplomacy of Peace and neutrality
Dr. Syed Mehboob
Economic and Political Analyst
Türkiye is a very important Muslim country striving to unite the Muslim Ummah, promoting peace and harmony has done many serious efforts to avoid war and violence. If the United States of America has paid any heed to listen Turkish advice much blood shed could have been avoided. Türkiye has a very balanced and well thought foreign and diplomatic policy and still has a role in future diplomacy for peace and stability in the region.
The comments by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to The Associated Press in an exclusive interview came as Ankara is striving to stay out of the widening war in the Middle East. Ankara, which has good relations with both Washington and Tehran, had attempted to mediate a solution between them before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran two weeks ago, triggering the war.
“The conditions are not very much conducive” to diplomacy now, Fidan said. The Iranians “feel betrayed” because for a second time they were attacked while in active negotiations with the U.S. over their nuclear program, he said, but added, “I think they are open to any sensible back-channel diplomacy.”
Hakan Fidan, 57, served as Turkey’s intelligence chief for more than a decade before being appointed foreign minister in 2023. He played a very important and key part is shaping and formulating Turkish foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly towards Syria, Iraq and Iran. He is considered as one of the most trusted figure of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and one of the potential candidates to succeed him. Turkey has maintained a neutral position in the war, criticizing both the U.S and Israeli strikes against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions against Gulf states that host U.S. bases. Fidan said he has been attempting to persuade the Iranians to halt those attacks. Turkey’s top priority is to remain outside of the conflict, even after three missiles believed to come from Iran were intercepted over Turkey by NATO defenses. Turkey is a NATO member and an air base in southern Turkey is used by NATO forces, including U.S. troops.
Iranian officials have insisted that they did not fire at Turkey, although the available data shows that the missiles came from Iran.
Türkiye ruled out a military response at this stage, saying that NATO’s defenses were effective and that Ankara’s “primary objective” is to stay out of the conflict. Turkish foreign minister said , “ “I know that we are being provoked and we will be provoked, but this is our objective,” he said. “We want to stay out of this war.”
Fidan, who has regular contact with Iranian officials, said he does not know the severity of the wounds suffered by Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in a strike earlier in the war, but that “what we know is that he is alive and functioning.” Khamenei was appointed to replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed Feb. 28 during the war’s opening salvo.
Fidan said “the process of electing a new leader and the medical conditions of the new leader, it created a gap” in Iran’s power structure and “I think that gap has been filled by the high command of the Revolutionary Guards,” referring to the paramilitary force reporting to the Supreme Leader.
Before the conflict, Turkey tried to avert a war by offering to host talks in Istanbul that would have brought U.S., Iran and other regional countries together. Iran later opted for talks mediated by Oman, without the participation of regional actors and focusing solely on its nuclear program — talks that ultimately failed.
Fidan said that Iran had refused to discuss its missile program and the proxy armed groups it backs in the region, including the Lebanese Hezbollah and a group of Iraqi militias — both of which have now waded into the regional war.
Turkey had proposed that “the Americans and the Iranians can discuss fully the nuclear issue and we as regional countries can come together to discuss the other two with Iran” as part of an initiative to build trust within the region.
Turkey and Israel have tense relations, with Erdogan becoming one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s action in Gaza. Turkey has cut trade ties with Israel and frequently accuses Israel of committing genocide. Israel in turn accuses Turkey of supporting Hamas, the Palestinian militant group ..
Since Israel launched its strikes on Iran, some have gone as far as to suggest that Turkey could be the next target. Fidan dismissed that possibility, while acknowledging that the war in Iran gave Turkey an increased incentive to step up its own production of weapons and air defenses.
“As long as Netanyahu is there, (Israel) will always identify somebody as an enemy,” he said. “Because they need it to advance their own agenda. If not Turkey, they would name some other country in the region.”
He criticized Israel’s role elsewhere in the region, including in Syria, where both countries have strategic interests.
Turkey has been a strong backer of the current government in Damascus led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former leader of an Islamist rebel group.
Located in a region marked by active and frozen conflicts as well as potential international disputes, Türkiye plays a pioneering role globally in raising awareness and building capacity for mediation—a key method for the peaceful resolution of conflicts—to promote sustained peace, stability, and prosperity both in its neighborhood and beyond.
Türkiye fulfils this role through a multi-layered and diverse framework of initiatives. These include peace mediation efforts on the ground, initiating and co-chairing the Groups of Friends of Mediation at the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as well as hosting international mediation conferences and training programs.
To institutionalize its increasing impact and leadership in the field of international peace mediation and to adopt a systematic and continuous approach to the discipline, Türkiye established the Directorate General for International Mediation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 6, 2024. The Directorate General is responsible for managing mediation, conflict prevention, and crisis management activities within international organizations, preparing and developing mediation and facilitation processes that Türkiye has undertaken or may undertake, as well as conducting or supporting mediation activities.
In line with its strong commitment to preventive diplomacy and mediation, Türkiye actively works to resolve conflicts peacefully and leads numerous initiatives across a wide geography. In this context:
• Efforts to achieve internal 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 - İstanbul Process” based on the principle of regional ownership,
• The establishment of trilateral consultation mechanisms between Bosnia and Herzegovina-Croatia-Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina-Serbia-Türkiye,
• Trust-building efforts between Sudan and South Sudan through joint economic projects,
• Facilitating indirect talks between Israel and Syria,
• Promoting the peaceful resolution of Iran’s nuclear program through dialogue,
• Supporting the peace process in South Philippines,
• Assisting discussions between Somalia and Somaliland,
• Mediation and facilitation efforts to support dialogue between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, including the Black Sea Grain Initiative and Russian Ukrainian prisoner exchanges,
• The Ankara Declaration between Ethiopia and Somalia,
are among the examples that highlight Türkiye’s notable contributions to mediation efforts on the global stage.
An important lesson learned from these efforts is that every conflict has its own dynamics and unique circumstances. Therefore, mediation efforts must adopt a flexible approach tailored to the specific needs of each situation, avoiding a “one-size-fits-all” strategy. However, there are fundamental principles of preventive diplomacy that must always be observed, regardless of the nature of the conflict. Successful mediation requires the explicit consent of all parties, a thorough understanding of the conflict’s dynamics, inclusivity and impartiality throughout the process, and a long-term commitment to achieving a lasting solution.
Equally important, mediators must adopt a strategy that is both flexible and principles-based from the outset. They should present a shared vision to the disputing parties, earn their trust, and demonstrate strong dedication to the process.
Türkiye continues to pursue mediation activities in accordance with these principles, fostering relationships of mutual trust with all parties to disputes and upholding universal values.
Israeli aggression is a threat for global peace and the United States unjustified support has thrown fuel into the war which needs to be reviewed and for the larger interest of global peace and harmony and for its own interest the USA must pay heed to the advice of Turkiye as recent Israel-US war against Iran will change the world worder as majority of the world people are not in favor of War. Even In the USA 43% people are against war 30% are neutral and only 23% are in favour.
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