On 8 January 2026, members of the Youth Section of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia (YATA Slovenia) took part in a working meeting at the residence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Slovenia, H.E. Hayriye Kumaşcıoğlu. The meeting provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on current developments in the international environment, a presentation of Türkiye’s foreign policy, and a discussion on potential avenues for future cooperation. In addition to the Ambassador, the Youth Section was also received by the Deputy Head of Mission and First Secretary, Ms Ebru Aydoğan, and the Ambassador’s Economic Counsellor, Mr Davut Orhan.
Following a welcoming reception, an in-depth and substantive discussion took place on Türkiye’s foreign policy, including its core priorities, strategic objectives, operational mechanisms, and current diplomatic initiatives.
The international environment is increasingly unpredictable, shaped by regional and global conflicts, the weakening of existing mechanisms of multilateral governance, intensified geopolitical and economic rivalries, rising social inequalities, and accelerated digitalisation. From Türkiye’s perspective, these dynamics underscore the need for a flexible, proactive, and multidimensional approach to foreign policy.
Türkiye’s foreign policy is grounded in a long-standing diplomatic tradition and its geostrategic location, forming an integral part of its broader national security framework. Its key objectives include safeguarding national interests, contributing to stability, peace, and development in neighbouring regions and globally, strengthening the institutional foundations of international relations, and promoting economic prosperity. Türkiye maintains an extensive diplomatic network of 264 diplomatic and consular missions worldwide, placing it among the countries with the largest global diplomatic presence.
At the regional level, Türkiye plays an active role in addressing security and humanitarian crises. This includes efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza, the provision of substantial humanitarian assistance, and hosting the world’s largest population of Syrian refugees. In this context, Türkiye emphasises its support for Syria’s territorial integrity and the safe and voluntary return of refugees. It also supports efforts aimed at lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and participates in diplomatic initiatives related to the war in Ukraine.
Türkiye’s engagement in the Western Balkans includes trilateral cooperation mechanisms such as Türkiye–Bosnia and Herzegovina–Serbia and Türkiye–Bosnia and Herzegovina–Croatia, highlighting the importance of political dialogue, economic cooperation, and regional stability. Through increased investments, Türkiye continues to strengthen its economic presence in the region. Relations with Slovenia were described as excellent, with bilateral trade reaching approximately EUR 4 billion.
In the broader foreign policy context, Türkiye emphasises the importance of strategic partnerships and institutional cooperation. It is a member of NATO and a strategic partner of the United States, underlining the importance of transatlantic security and the principle of indivisible security within the Alliance. Full membership in the European Union remains an officially defined strategic goal, although the accession process is lengthy and complicated by unresolved political issues, including objections from certain Member States—particularly Greece—and the Cyprus question. Türkiye also highlighted its efforts toward visa liberalisation with the EU as an important step toward deepening relations and strengthening people-to-people and economic ties.
Within NATO, Türkiye represents a key pillar of Allied security. With the second-largest military in the Alliance, it plays a central role in safeguarding NATO’s southeastern flank and actively participates in Allied missions and operations, including the KFOR mission in Kosovo, which is currently led by a Turkish commander. Türkiye allocates between 2 and 2.5 per cent of its gross domestic product to defence, in line with NATO definitions.
Türkiye is also actively engaged in multilateral frameworks, participating in and initiating numerous international organisations and platforms aimed at promoting inclusiveness, reforming global governance, and enhancing responses to shared challenges. In this context, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum has emerged as a prominent platform for dialogue on global and regional issues and for connecting political, diplomatic, and academic actors.
Counter-terrorism represents another key dimension of Türkiye’s foreign and security policy. At both national and international levels, Türkiye emphasises intelligence-sharing, operational cooperation, and a comprehensive approach to addressing terrorist threats, which it considers among the central challenges of the contemporary international security environment.
The meeting concluded with the recognition of multiple opportunities for cooperation between the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye and the Youth Section of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia. We sincerely thank Ambassador Hayriye Kumaşcıoğlu and her team for their hospitality and for the open and substantive discussion. Looking ahead, the Youth Section remains committed to further deepening cooperation and maintaining regular and constructive engagement.
