What is Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey)? Facts and background

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkish: Dışişleri Bakanlığı) is the governmental body responsible for conducting foreign relations of the Republic of Turkey. The Ministry is responsible for Turkey's diplomatic missions abroad as well as providing support for Turkish citizens and promoting Turkish culture. The ministry implements Turkish foreign policy in accordance with the country's national interests. Established on 2 May 1920, its primary duties are administering diplomatic missions, negotiating international treaties and agreements, and representing the Republic of Turkey at the United Nations.

The ministry is headquartered in the Turkish capital of Ankara and counts on more than 200 missions as embassies, permanent representation offices and consulates general, abroad. As of 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains 235 diplomatic posts worldwide.

The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Hakan Fidan, who has held the position since 3 June 2023.

Diplomatic missions

The Ministry oversees Turkey's diplomatic missions abroad, which include embassies, consulates, and representative offices in over 200 countries and territories.

Gender equality

As of April 2023, 42% of Turkey's ambassadors and 15% of Turkey's consuls-general are women. That is, 72 women out of 172 ambassadors, and 14 women out of 97 consuls-general.

Organization

Office of the Minister

This is the top-level of the MFA hierarchy and is responsible for managing the overall operations of the ministry. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is assisted by three Deputy Ministers and several advisors.

Central organization

Political Affairs department is responsible for the development and implementation of Turkey's foreign policy. It analyzes international political developments, conducts research, and provides policy recommendations to the government.
Economic Affairs department is responsible for promoting Turkey's economic interests abroad. It works to increase trade and investment, improve economic relations with other countries, and support Turkish businesses operating abroad.
EU Affairs department is responsible for Turkey's relations with the European Union (EU). It coordinates Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU and monitors EU policies that affect Turkey's interests.
Multilateral Political Affairs department is responsible for Turkey's participation in international organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Consular Affairs department provides consular services to Turkish citizens abroad and foreign nationals in Turkey. It issues passports and visas, provides assistance to Turkish nationals in emergency situations, and works to protect the rights of Turkish citizens abroad.
Cultural Affairs department is responsible for promoting Turkish culture and language abroad. It organizes cultural events, supports Turkish language instruction in foreign countries, and facilitates academic and cultural exchanges between Turkey and other countries.
Protocol department is responsible for managing official visits by foreign dignitaries and organizing events hosted by the MFA. It also provides logistical support to Turkish diplomatic missions abroad.
Overseas Promotion and Public Diplomacy department is responsible for promoting Turkey's image abroad and improving its relations with foreign publics. It conducts public diplomacy activities, manages Turkish cultural centers abroad, and coordinates public relations efforts with Turkish diplomatic missions.

Field offices

The ministry runs field offices in the following cities:

Overseas organization

Turkish embassies, consulates-general, permanent representatives, and trade offices are semi-detached from the central organization. They follow the orders of the Minister's office, and the chief of mission is the sole authority within an overseas diplomatic mission. In the Turkish MFA, an ambassador is the chief of an embassy or a permanent representative.

An ambassador would also be the chief of the sole Turkish trade office abroad in the Republic of China (Taiwan). Consulates-general are headed by diplomats called consuls-general.

Major issues

Cyprus
Turkey and the EU
Turkey's Security (NATO)
Terrorism
Controversy between Turkey and Armenia about the Events of 1915
Turkey's International Energy Strategy
Water Issues
Environment Policy
The Turkish Straits
Resolution of Conflicts and Mediation
Arms Control and Disarmament
Turkish Citizens Living Abroad
Turkey's Multilateral Transportation Policy
Human Rights
Turkey on Irregular Migration
Turkey on Trafficking in Human Beings
Combating Drugs
Combating Organized Crime
Combating Corruption
Turkey's Humanitarian Assistance
Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Turkey
Maritime Issues
The Alliance of Civilizations Initiative
Asia Anew Initiative

International organizations

Republic of Turkey is a member of 26 international organizations. The contact between these organizations and Turkey is maintained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Asia Cooperation Dialogue — Member
African Union — Observer Member
Black Sea Naval Force — Member
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States — Non-member, quartet meetings on UN General Assembly
Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia — Member
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation — Founding Member
Council of Europe — Member
D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation — Member
Economic Cooperation Organization — Member
International Criminal Court — Non-member, annual meetings attended by Turkish officials
Arab League — Non-member, diplomatic relations between Arab League and Turkey
MIKTA — Member
NATO — Member
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation — Member
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe — Signatory
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development — Member
Union for the Mediterranean — Member
United Nations — Member
United Nations Department of Peace Operations — Member
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization — Member
Organization of Turkic States — Member
International Organization of Turkic Culture — Member
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas — Member
Organization of American States
OPEC

List of foreign ministers

The position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey was established in 1920, during the Turkish War of Independence.

Bekir Sami Kunduh(1867–1933) — 3 May 1920 — 8 May 1921 — 1 year, 5 days — Independent
Ahmet Muhtar Mollaoğlu(1870–1934) — 8 May 1921 — 16 May 1921 — 8 days — Independent
Yusuf Kemal Tengirşenk(1878–1969) — 16 May 1921 — 25 October 1922 — 1 year, 162 days — Independent
İsmet İnönü(1884–1973) — 25 October 1922 — 22 November 1924 — 2 years, 28 days — Republican People's Party
Şükrü Kaya(1883–1959) — 22 November 1924 — 3 March 1925 — 101 days — Republican People's Party
Tevfik Rüştü Aras(1883–1972) — 3 March 1925 — 11 November 1938 — 13 years, 253 days — Republican People's Party
Şükrü Saracoğlu(1887–1953) — 11 November 1938 — 14 August 1942 — 3 years, 276 days — Republican People's Party
Numan Menemencioğlu(1893–1958) — 14 August 1942 — 16 June 1944 — 1 year, 307 days — Republican People's Party
Şükrü Saracoğlu(1887–1953) — 16 June 1944 — 13 September 1944 — 89 days — Republican People's Party
Hasan Saka(1885–1960) — 13 September 1944 — 10 September 1947 — 2 years, 362 days — Republican People's Party
Necmettin Sadak(1890–1953) — 10 September 1947 — 22 May 1950 — 2 years, 254 days — Republican People's Party
Mehmet Fuat Köprülü(1890–1966) — 22 May 1950 — 15 April 1955 — 4 years, 328 days — Democrat Party
Adnan Menderes(1899–1961) — 15 April 1955 — 27 July 1955 — 103 days — Democrat Party
Fatin Rüştü Zorlu(1910–1961)Acting Minister — 27 July 1955 — 9 December 1955 — 135 days — Democrat Party
Mehmet Fuat Köprülü(1890–1966) — 9 December 1955 — 20 June 1956 — 194 days — Democrat Party
Ethem Menderes(1899–1992)Acting Minister — 20 June 1956 — 25 November 1957 — 1 year, 158 days — Democrat Party
Fatin Rüştü Zorlu(1910–1961) — 25 November 1957 — 27 May 1960 — 2 years, 184 days — Democrat Party
Selim Sarper(1899–1968) — 30 May 1960 — 26 March 1962 — 1 year, 300 days — Independent
Feridun Cemal Erkin(1899–1980) — 26 March 1962 — 20 February 1965 — 2 years, 331 days — Justice Party
Hasan Esat Işık(1916–1989) — 20 February 1965 — 27 October 1965 — 249 days — Independent
İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil(1908–1993) — 27 October 1965 — 26 March 1971 — 5 years, 150 days — Justice Party
Osman Esim Olcay(1924–2010) — 26 March 1971 — 11 December 1971 — 260 days — Independent
Ümit Haluk Bayülken(1921–2007) — 11 December 1971 — 26 January 1974 — 2 years, 46 days — Independent
Turan Güneş(1922–1982) — 26 January 1974 — 17 November 1974 — 295 days — Republican People's Party
Melih Esenbel(1915–1995) — 17 November 1974 — 31 March 1975 — 134 days — Independent
İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil(1908–1993) — 31 March 1975 — 21 June 1977 — 2 years, 82 days — Justice Party
Ahmet Gündüz Ökçün(1935–1986) — 21 June 1977 — 21 July 1977 — 30 days — Republican People's Party
İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil(1908–1993) — 21 July 1977 — 5 January 1978 — 168 days — Justice Party
Ahmet Gündüz Ökçün(1935–1986) — 5 January 1978 — 12 November 1979 — 1 year, 311 days — Republican People's Party
Hayrettin Erkmen(1915–1999) — 12 November 1979 — 5 September 1980 — 298 days — Justice Party
Ertuğrul Ekrem Ceyhun(1927–2017)Acting Minister — 5 September 1980 — 12 September 1980 — 7 days — Justice Party
İlter Türkmen(1927–2022) — 20 September 1980 — 13 December 1983 — 3 years, 84 days — Independent
Vahit Melih Halefoğlu(1919–2017) — 13 December 1983 — 21 December 1987 — 4 years, 8 days — Motherland Party
Mesut Yılmaz(1947–2020) — 21 December 1987 — 21 February 1990 — 2 years, 62 days — Motherland Party
Ali Bozer(1925–2020) — 21 February 1990 — 12 October 1990 — 233 days — Motherland Party
Ahmet Kurtcebe Alptemoçin(born 1940) — 13 October 1990 — 23 June 1991 — 253 days — Motherland Party
Safa Giray(1931–2011) — 23 June 1991 — 20 November 1991 — 150 days — Motherland Party
Hikmet Çetin(born 1937) — 21 November 1991 — 27 July 1994 — 2 years, 248 days — Social Democratic People's Party
Mümtaz Soysal(1929–2019) — 27 July 1994 — 28 November 1994 — 124 days — Social Democratic People's Party
Murat Karayalçın(born 1943) — 12 December 1994 — 27 March 1995 — 105 days — Social Democratic People's Party
Erdal İnönü(1926–2007) — 27 March 1995 — 5 October 1995 — 192 days — Republican People's Party
Coşkun Kırca(1927–2005) — 5 October 1995 — 30 October 1995 — 25 days — True Path Party
Deniz Baykal(1938–2023) — 30 October 1995 — 6 March 1996 — 128 days — Republican People's Party
Emre Gönensay(born 1937) — 6 March 1996 — 28 June 1996 — 114 days — True Path Party
Tansu Çiller(born 1946) — 28 June 1996 — 30 June 1997 — 1 year, 2 days — True Path Party
İsmail Cem(1940–2007) — 30 June 1997 — 12 July 2002 — 5 years, 12 days — Democratic Left Party
Şükrü Sina Gürel(born 1950) — 12 July 2002 — 18 November 2002 — 129 days — Democratic Left Party
Yaşar Yakış(1938–2024) — 18 November 2002 — 14 March 2003 — 116 days — Justice and Development Party
Abdullah Gül(born 1950) — 14 March 2003 — 29 August 2007 — 4 years, 168 days — Justice and Development Party
Ali Babacan(born 1967) — 29 August 2007 — 1 May 2009 — 1 year, 245 days — Justice and Development Party
Ahmet Davutoğlu(born 1959) — 1 May 2009 — 29 August 2014 — 5 years, 120 days — Justice and Development Party
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu(born 1968) — 29 August 2014 — 28 August 2015 — 364 days — Justice and Development Party
Feridun Sinirlioğlu(born 1956) — 28 August 2015 — 24 November 2015 — 88 days — Independent
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu(born 1968) — 24 November 2015 — 4 June 2023 — 7 years, 192 days — Justice and Development Party
Hakan Fidan(born 1968) — 4 June 2023 — Incumbent — 3 years, 110 days — Justice and Development Party

Awards

Since 1989, the Ministry awards people and organizations that have demonstrated distinguished services.