Foreign relations of Turkey

Algeria has an embassy in Ankara, and a general consulate in Istanbul.^[8] Turkey has an embassy in Algiers.^[9]

Diplomatic relations between Botswana and Turkey were established on 7 October 1971.^[10]

• Burundi has an embassy in Ankara.^[11]
• Turkey is represented in Burundi by its embassy in Kampala.^[11]

Turkey is represented in Cape Verde by its embassy in Dakar and an honorary consulate in Praia.^[12]

The Turkish Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon is accredited to the Central African Republic. While Turkey has an Honorary Consulate in Bangui since 2003; the Central African Republic has Honorary Consulates in Istanbul since 1995 and in Ankara since 2007.^[13]

• Chad has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in N'Djamena.

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1977^[14].

Egypt and Turkey are bound by strong religious and historical ties. For four centuries, Egypt was officially part of the Ottoman Empire, with the seat of the Caliphate in Istanbul and the seat of culture in Cairo, though secession of Egypt began with Muhammad Ali in the early 19th century. In 1867 Egypt under Muhammad Ali dynasty became an autonomous tribute state, while in 1914 in turned a fully independent kingdom. Turkey established diplomatic relations with Egypt in 1925 at the level of Chargé d'Affaires and upgraded its mission in Cairo to Ambassadorial level in 1948. Both countries have embassies and consulate generals in each other's capitals. Both countries have signed a free trade agreement in December 2005. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean. A natural gas deal between Egypt and Turkey, the largest joint Egyptian–Turkish project to date, estimated to cost $4 billion—is being implemented.^{[citation needed]} On 16 April 2008, Egypt and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding to improve and further military relations and cooperation between the two countries. Turkey and Egypt experienced improved relations following the ouster of the Free Officers in favor of Muslim Brotherhood's Morsi as an outcome of the Arab Spring. However, with the overthrow of Mursi's Egyptian government in summer 2013, the relations between Turkey and Egypt had quickly deteriorated until in late November 2013 both countries expelled the counterpart Ambassadors.

Ethiopia has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Addis Ababa since 1925. Turkey was the sixth country to open an embassy in Ethiopia. Today the relations between the two countries are described as excellent, both politically and economically.^[15] In December 2008, Turkey sent a trade delegation to Ethiopia, which met with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Trade and Industry Girma Biru, and the President of the Oromia Region Abadula Gemeda, as well as visited Turkish-owned textiles factories in Ethiopia.^[16] A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who attended the discussion, expressed the hope that Turkey could share its experience and provide assistance to ongoing efforts to rehabilitate and extend its railway system.^[17]

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1965.^[18]

• Turkey is represented in Guinea-Bissau by its embassy in Conakry, Guinea and an honorary consulate in Bissau.
• Guinea-Bissau has two honorary consulates in Istanbul and Ankara.^[19]

• Kenya has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Nairobi.

• Lesotho is represented in Turkey via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Rome, Italy.^[20]
• Turkey is represented in Lesotho through its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.^[20]

• Libya has an embassy in Ankara and a general consulate in Istanbul.
• Turkey has an embassy in Tripoli and a general consulate in Benghazi.
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Libya

• Madagascar is represented in Turkey through its embassy in Rome, Italy.^[21]
• Turkey has an embassy in Antananarivo.

• Turkey is represented in Malawi by its embassy in Lusaka, Zambia.^[22]
• Malawi is represented in Turkey by its embassy in Berlin, Germany.^[22]

• The relations between the two nations go back to the Ottoman times.^[23]
• Both countries are full members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

• Mauritius is represented in Turkey by its embassy in Berlin, Germany.^[24]
• Turkey is represented in Mauritius by its embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar.^[24]

• Morocco has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Rabat.^[25]

Turkey has opened an embassy in Windhoek on 4 January 2012 and Namibia is represented in Turkey through its embassy in Berlin, (Germany) and an honorary consulate in Istanbul.^[26]

• Nigeria has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Abuja.^[27]
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Nigeria

• Turkey is represented in São Tomé and Príncipe by its embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.^[28]

The Turkish embassy in Accra is accredited to Sierra Leone. There is also an Honorary Consulate of Turkey in Freetown; the embassy of Sierra Leone in Abu Dhabi is accredited to Turkey. Sierra Leone has an Honorary Consulate in Ankara.^[29]

Both countries established diplomatic relations in June 1995.^[30]

Relations between the present-day territories of Somalia and Turkey date back to the Middle Ages and the ties between the Adal Sultanate and the Ottoman Empire; the two kingdoms were allies during the Abyssinian–Adal conflict.^[31]

In 1969, Somalia and Turkey were among the founding members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Turkey originally maintained an embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, until the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991, it subsequently discontinued operations due to security reasons.^[32]

Over the ensuing interim period, the Turkish authorities continued relations with Somalia's newly established Transitional National Government and its successor the Transitional Federal Government through their non-resident diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa.^[32]

Following a greatly improved security situation in Mogadishu in mid-2011, the Turkish government re-opened its foreign embassy with the intention of more effectively assisting in the post-conflict development process,^[33] it was among the first foreign administrations to resume formal diplomatic relations with Somalia after the civil war.^[34]

• Diplomatic relations were established at consular level in 1991 and consulates-general were opened in Istanbul and Johannesburg respectively.
• Both consulates were closed following the upgrading of relations to ambassadorial level in October 1992.
• South Africa has an embassy in Ankara.^[35]
• Turkey has an embassy in Pretoria.
• See also Turks in South Africa
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with South Africa

Sudan has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Khartoum.^[36] Although on opposing sides of the Peace Process in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict spectrum, Turkey and Sudan have in recent years joined forces to end the ongoing conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Both countries have made repeated plea talks during the offensive in Gaza during the beginning of 2009 to Palestinian officials to be of both economic and political aid to the turmoilic state. Turkey also showed interest in Darfur crisis and followed a policy of so-called "passive quiet diplomacy".^[37]

• Swaziland is represented in Turkey through its embassy in Brussels, Belgium and an honorary consulate in Ankara.^[38]
• Turkey is represented in Swaziland via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa and an honorary consulate in Mbabane.^[38]

The Turkish embassy in Accra is accredited to Togo, while Togo's embassy in Berlin is accredited to Turkey.^[39]

• Tunisia has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate-general in Istanbul.
• Turkey has an embassy in Tunis.^[40]

Both countries have established diplomatic relations, which became stronger since the opening of the Turkish embassy in Kampala in 2010 and the Ugandan embassy in Ankara in 2013 .^[41]

• Since 2011, Turkey has an embassy in Lusaka.^[42]
• Since 2013, Zambia has an embassy in Ankara.^[42]

Both countries have established diplomatic relations^[43] since June 1999.^[44]

• Argentina has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Buenos Aires.
• Turkey's staunch support for fellow NATO member United Kingdom during the Falklands War and recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Argentine parliament has soured relations between the two countries.

Turkey has a non-resident ambassador in Caracas, Venezuela; the Barbadian Government does not have foreign accreditation for Turkey. Barbados and Turkey formally established joint diplomatic relations on 20 September 1972.^[45] Barbadian and Turkish economic trade are not very significant, however as of April 2009 both countries have discussed the desire for expanding a bilateral framework for possible cooperation in tourism;^[46][47] the diplomatic representative of Turkey, Nihat Akyol and his Barbadian counterpart the Minister of Foreign Affairs revealed that they could "provide support to each other" and that they should not view each other as "competitors".^[46][48]

• The Turkish Embassy in Mexico City is accredited to Belize and Turkey has an Honorary Consul in Belize City.^[49]
• Belize has an Honorary Consulate in Izmir.^[49]

Brazil has an embassy in Ankara.^[50] Turkey has an embassy in Brasília and a Consulate General in São Paulo. Both countries are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Canada has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Ottawa; the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Canadian parliament has soured relations between the two countries.^[51]

Chile was the first country in Latin America which recognized Turkey with the Friendship Treaty, on 30 January 1926.^[52] In Santiago, there can be found the Turkish Republic Square, Atatürk College^[53][54] and Atatürk monument;^[55] the Turkish embassy in Chile is the first embassy of Turkey opened in Latin America. In addition Turkey includes a Chile Square in Ankara inaugurated on 18 September 1970 that contains the Bernardo O'Higgins Monument;^[55][56] the Pablo Neruda square in Turkey was inaugurated in 2007.^[55]

• Colombia has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Bogotá.

• Cuba has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Havana.

Diplomatic relations were established on April 2006 in New York City.^[57]

• Turkey is represented in Guyana by its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela.^[58]
• In 2010, Turkey's exports to Guyana totaled 5.5 million USD and its imports from Guyana were 2.5 million USD.^[58]

• Mexico has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate in Istanbul.^[59]
• Turkey has an embassy in Mexico City.^[60]
• Both countries are members of the G-20 and the OECD.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 April 1950.^[61]

• Peru has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Lima.

Since 1999, Turkey is represented in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines by its embassy in Havana and since 2007 an honorary consulate in Kingstown.^[62]

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1976.^[63]

Turkey is represented in Trinidad and Tobago by its embassy in Caracas.^[64]

U.S.President Jimmy Carter with Turkish Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit at the White House, 31 May 1978.

Friendship between Turkey and the United States dates to the late 19th century, when Turkey was part of the Ottoman Empire, and was officially sealed by a treaty in 1830; the close relationship between the modern Republic of Turkey and the United States began with the Second Cairo Conference on 4–6 December 1943, and the agreement of 12 July 1947 which implemented the Truman Doctrine. As part of the cooperative effort to further improve Turkish economic and military self-reliance, the United States has loaned and granted Turkey more than $12.5 billion in economic aid and more than $14 billion in military assistance.

Turkey participated with the United States during the Korean War of the early 1950s, providing active military support to the U.S. forces. During the Gulf War of 1990, the Turkish Armed Forces contributed to the coalition forces, and Turkey supported the initiatives of the U.S. in the region. Turkey has hosted the Incirlik Air Base, a major operations base of the United States Air Force, since 1954. Following its membership in 1952, Turkey became the bulwark of NATO's southeastern flank, directly bordering Warsaw Pact countries and risking nuclear war on its soil during the Cuban missile crisis.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, D.C., 13 February 2012.

In the post Cold War environment, though still committed to its close relations with Washington, Turkey became a more independent actor. Although Turkey supported the United States in the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan, there was strong domestic opposition to the Iraq War. A government motion to allow U.S. troops to attack Iraq from Turkey's border failed to reach the necessary majority. This led to a cooling in relations between the U.S. and Turkey and fears of a permanent rift due to the situation in Iraq.^[65] A crucial factor here has been the determination by some neoconservatives to present Turkey's independent foreign policy as directed against US interests.^[3] Turkey is particularly cautious about an independent Kurdish state arising from a destabilised Iraq; it has previously fought an insurgent war on its own soil, in which an estimated 37,000 people lost their lives, against the PKK (listed as a terrorist organization by a number of states and organisations, including the U.S. and the EU).^[66][67] This led the Turkish government to put pressure on the U.S. to clamp down on insurgent training camps in northern Iraq, without much success.^[68] On 17 October 2007, the Turkish Parliament voted in favour of allowing the Turkish Armed Forces to take military action against the PKK militants based in northern Iraq.^[69] In response, U.S. President George W. Bush stated that he did not believe it's in Turkey's interests to send troops into Iraq.^[70]

The U.S. and Turkey have had a Joint Economic Commission and a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement for several years. In 2002, the two countries indicated their joint intent to upgrade bilateral economic relations by launching an Economic Partnership Commission. In 2005, Turkish exports to the U.S. totaled $4.9 billion, and U.S. exports to Turkey totaled $5.3 billion.

According to leaked diplomatic cables, Erdoğan was described by US diplomats as having "little understanding of politics beyond Ankara" and as surrounding himself with an "iron ring of sycophantic (but contemptuous) advisors", he is said to be "isolated", and that his MPs and Ministers feel "fearful of Erdogan's wrath".^[71] Diplomats state that "he relies on his charisma, instincts, and the filterings of advisors who pull conspiracy theories off the web or are lost in neo-Ottoman Islamist fantasies".^[72] Erdogan responded strongly to the claims, threatening a lawsuit, he rejects the allegations of having "eight secret accounts in Swiss banks," stating that the people responsible for the leaks will "be crushed under these claims, will be finished and will disappear."^[73]

In December 2017, U.S. national security adviser General H.R. McMaster said that Turkey had joined Qatar as a prime source of funding that contributes to the spread of extremist ideology of Islamism: "We're seeing great involvement by Turkey from everywhere from western Africa to Southeast Asia," funding groups that help create the conditions that allow terrorism to flourish.^[74]

• Turkey is accredited to Uruguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• Uruguay is accredited to Turkey from its embassy in Bucharest, Romania and maintains an honorary consulate in Istanbul.

• Turkey has an embassy in Caracas.
• Venezuela has an embassy in Ankara.

Afghanistan–Turkey relations have always been warm due to strong ethnic and historical links between the two modern states. Afghanistan was the second country to recognize the Republic of Turkey, after the Soviet Union, establishing diplomatic contacts whilst the Turkish War of Independence was still being waged. Turkey has participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since its inception in 2001 and is responsible for maintaining security around Kabul, providing training for the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police and has undertaken a number of reconstruction projects in the fields of education, health and agriculture in the province of Vardak. Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited Ankara on 4 April 2002 and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a reciprocal visit to Kabul a short time later.

Ahmet Davutoğlu has described this relationship as "exemplary" even if the two countries do not border, but are close. A recent survey in Kabul of 1,259 people shows that Afghanistan rely mostly on Turkey, and consider Turkey to be Afghanistan's one and only true, best friend (as of July 2012). Afghanistan are also constantly referred to 'brothers' in Turkey. Generally it is said that "Turkey is Afghanistan's closest neighbor without common borders"[citation needed].. There are two opinions which compose the fundamentals of Turkish-Afghan relations, it is said in Afghanistan "no Afghan was ever killed by a Turkish bullet" and "no Afghan trained by Turks has ever betrayed his country". Afghanistan was also the second nation to recognise the Republic of Turkey, after the Soviet Union, on 1 March 1923.

Since the 1920s Turkey enjoyed its prestige in Afghanistan.[citation needed] Both countries established education and cultural exchange programs. Inside Afghanistan Turkish schools were established. Furthermore, Turkish army officers assisted or even commanded the training of Afghan military members; the foreign relations of Afghanistan have changed so much politically, socially and economically. Today the relations between the two countries go beyond giving military education. In this respect it is noteworthy that this article handles the developments in the relationship between Afghanistan and Turkey in historical context.

Afghan and Turkish relations spans several centuries, as many Turkic and Afghan peoples ruled vast areas of Central Asia and the Middle East particularly the Ghaznavids, Khilji, Timurid, Lodhi, Mughal, Afsharid, and Durrani empires. Throughout its long history, many Ottoman officials were in close contact with Afghan leaders even up until the early 20th century when the Ottoman administrator Ahmad Jamal Pasha went to Afghanistan where he worked on modernizing the Afghan armed forces. Ertuğrul Osman, the current head of the Imperial Ottoman Dynasty, is married to Zeynep Tarzi Hanım Efendi, the daughter of Abdulfettah Tarzi, niece of the former King of Afghanistan, Amanullah Khan.

Afghanistan was the second country to recognize the Republic of Turkey, after the Soviet Union, establishing diplomatic contacts whilst the Turkish War of Independence was still being waged. Talks held in Moscow on 1 March 1921 resulted in the Turkey-Afghanistan Alliance Agreement and a period of intense cooperation. In 1937, shortly before the outbreak of World War II, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Turkey signed the Treaty of Saadabad.

Turkey has participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since its inception with the deployment of 290- non-combatant support personnel in 2001 and has assumed command of ISAF II (June 2002 – February 2003) and ISAF VII (February–August 2005). According to Turkish Parliamentary Deputy Burhan Kayatürk Turkey, which has the goodwill of the Afghani people, "can help win the hearts and minds of the Afghani people," who, "like the Turkish soldiers," and, "steer them away from militancy by strengthening the infrastructure in education, health and industry."[3]

Turkish troops have not participated as combat forces but rather as logistical support and training Afghan personnel. Over 12,000 afghan soldiers and police have been trained.[4]

Turkish construction firms have subsequently also become active in the country.[citation needed] Turkey is responsible for maintaining security around Kabul, providing training for the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police and have undertaken a number of reconstruction projects in the fields of education, health and agriculture in the province of Vardak. Turkey's support of the Bonn Agreement and the Afghan Constitution Commission resulted in an official visit to Turkey by Afghan President Hamid Karzai on 4 April 2002 and made a reciprocal visit to Afghanistan by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a short time later.

Turkey launched a trilateral summit process between the two states and Pakistan in February 2007, following a visit by then Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül to Islamabad, as the backbone of its diversified foreign policy in Southeast Asia and Pakistani deputy Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri confirmed that according to Gül "we are all brothers who need to support each other," in order to, "bring security and stability to the region."[5]

An 1 April 2009 meeting between Afghan and Pakistani leaders, conducted as part of the trilateral Ankara cooperation process, saw the three countries pledged to increase coordination between their political, military and intelligence tiers in the fight against militancy and terrorism. Turkish Parliamentary Deputy Kayatürk has stated that, "It is the first time that the military and intelligence chiefs of Afghanistan and Pakistan have attended the trilateral summit, which is a reflection of the deeper commitment to work together."[3]

Afghan and Pakistani parliamentary deputies came together in Ankara on 5 May, as part of the trilateral Ankara cooperation process, where they met with the now Turkish President Gül and new Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu to discuss a variety of issues. Head of the Turkish Parliament's Foreign Relations Commission Murat Mercan stated;

"Today we need cooperation between our countries more than ever. I believe Turkey, having historical brotherhood relations with both, is in a special position to improve and deepen this cooperation. Turkey is confident that the cooperation to be established between Afghanistan and Pakistan will help a lot to solve the problems."[6]

Vice-Chairman of the Afghan Parliament's Foreign Relations Commission Mohammed Shakir Kargar responded by reaffirming this historical friendship built upon by Atatürk and thanked Turkey for its help with the post-Taliban restructuring. Mercan concluded, "We are finally on the verge of institutionalising the trilateral Ankara cooperation process within the framework of parliamentary joint initiatives," with follow-up meetings due to be held in Islamabad and Kabul at four-month intervals.

After the very controversial 2009 election, President Karzai visited the President of Turkey in November 2009 to consolidate relations with other stakeholders in the region.[7] The president of Turkey affirmed that Turkey had to take an active part in stabilizing the region, taking up the torch of western activity in the region and specifically in Afghanistan.[7]

Armenia-Turkey relations have long been strained by a number of historical-political issues including Turkish dispute of the Armenian Genocide during World War I. To this day, Turkey does not awknowledge the events of Syrma on 1915, and fails to call their actions Genocide, the mass killings of a certain ethnicity or group of people based on their religious or cultural beliefs. Armenian-Turkish borders, along with Azerbaijan, have remained closed off of the fact of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey's indirect support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno Karabakh War, as well as in potential border disputes between Azerbaijan and Armenia, was an issue in the 1990s. Currently, there are no formal diplomatic relations between the two modern states.

Turkey recognized the state of Armenia soon after its 1991 independence, but formal diplomatic relations were not established. Issues came to a head in 1993 when Turkey sided with its fellow Turkic ally Azerbaijan over the Nagarno-Karabakh War by closing its borders with Armenia and were exacerbated by subsequent pipeline and infrastructure projects that bypassed Armenia, and Armenia's controversial decision to re-commission the outdated Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant just 16 km from Turkey's border. Armenia still demands the return of their culturally stained lands, that were once filled with Armenian inhabitants and monasteries, which are now Turkish mosques; the United States has also failed to recognize the events as Genocide because of Turkish-American relations. In the wake of the 2007 murder of Turkish Armenian intellectual Hrant Dink by a Turkish gunman, and the ensuing scandal in which his killer was pictured while holding up a Turkish flag, flanked by smiling government employees,^[76] tens of thousands of Turkish citizens marched throughout the country in protest in support of Dink; the subsequent diplomatic thaw saw Turkish President Abdullah Gül become the first ever Turkish leader to visit Armenia^[77] and the announcement of a provisional roadmap for normalising diplomatic ties.^[78] It was announced that Turkey and Armenia agreed to establish diplomatic relations on 10 October 2009.^[79] However, those diplomatic efforts to normalise the relations have faltered. Armenia suspended the ratification process, citing preconditions set forth by Turkey.^[80]

Azerbaijan-Turkey relations have always been strong with the two often being described as "one nation with two states" due to a common culture, history, ethnicity, and the mutual intelligibility of Turkish and Azerbaijani. Turkey has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial integrity and realize its economic potential arising from the rich natural resources of the Caspian Sea.

Today, the relationship with Azerbaijan represents the "most important bilateral partnership" in current Turkish foreign policy while Azerbaijan foreign policy affirms its relationship with Turkey as one of its most enduring bilateral relationships, as evidenced in aligned political affairs, mutual cooperation in the areas of trade, commerce, finance, technology, diaspora, academics, as well as the arts and sciences; the sharing of government and military intelligence, and joint combat operations and peacekeeping missions carried out between Azerbaijani Armed Forces and Turkish Armed Forces.^[81][82]

• Bahrain has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Manama.

Relations have been excellent since Turkey recognised Bangladesh in 1971, soon after independence; the trade volume between the two countries has grown as did Bangladeshi exports and has been in Bangladesh's favor throughout their economic relationship. Bangladesh was one of the only six countries to support the Turkish invasion of Cyprus during a UN vote on the matter. On the issue of Cyprus, Bangladesh at multilateral organisations such as the UN, use this as an opportunity to defend the rights of the Turkish community, they also supported the creation of the Developing 8 Countries with six other nations with large Muslim populations. However, when Turkish President Abdullah Gul wrote a letter^[83] to Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman requesting 91-year-old Islamic leader not to be executed Bangladesh government became angry.^[84]

Turkey recognized the PRC on 5 August 1971. Turkey pursues One-China policy and recognizes the PRC as the sole legal representative of China; the PRC has an embassy in Ankara, and a consulate–general in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Beijing and two consulates–general in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Tensions between Chinese people and uyghur communities is always a hurdle as the latter have Turkish origin

In February 2019, Turkish government denounced China for "violating the fundamental human rights of Uyghur Turks and other Muslim communities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region."^[85]

Turkey is represented in Timor by its embassy in Jakarta.^[86]

Turkey has a close partnership relations with Georgia. Turkish citizens can use the Batumi Airport in Georgia, which is run by Turkey's Tepe-Akfen-Vie consortium (TAV), without a visa or passport. Turkey views the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts as a potential danger to peace and stability in the entire region; the resolution of these problems is essential for the preservation of peace and stability in the area. Turkey has shown a readiness to be a negotiator for the Abkhazian conflict.

Despite its close supportive bond with its geopolitical rival, Pakistan, Turkey's relations with India have always been generally friendly and stable, though at certain times cold; the two nations have been in contact with each other since the early times of the Ottoman Empire; Turkey and India work closely with each other to fight cultural terrorism in the Middle East, Central, and South Asia. India was also one of many countries to recognize the newly independent Turkey and send political aid to combat the subsequent poverty and benefit the war effort.

• India have an embassy in Ankara^[87] and a Consulate General in Istanbul.^[88]
• Turkey have an embassy in New Delhi and two Consulate General in Hyderabad and Mumbai.^[87]

Indonesia has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Jakarta;^[89] this relationship began in the 16th century when the Muslim sultan of Java requested help from the Ottoman Turkish Caliph to resist the Portuguese colonization attempts in the region, which was replied with a large contingent of ships and soldiers whose efforts to help their Muslim brothers mark to this day the close relationship between Indonesia and Turkey.

Relations between both nations have essentially been peaceful since 1923. There are an estimated 12 to 21 million Turkic peoples in Iran (Iranian Turks such as Azeris and Turkmens) who mostly live in the northern regions of the country. However, a period of coldness in bilateral relations existed following the 1979 Iranian Revolution due to the conflicting ideologies of secular Turkey and theocratic Iran.^[68] Ankara has long suspected Iran's support for Islamist organizations and militant groups in Turkey.^[90] Nevertheless, the economic and political relations between the two countries have significantly improved in the recent years. Today, Iran and Turkey cooperate in a wide variety of fields that range from fighting terrorism and drug trafficking, and promoting stability in Iraq and Central Asia. Both countries have strongly advocated Iraqi territorial integrity since the beginning of the 2003 Iraqi invasion.^[91] Iran and Turkey also have very close economic relations. Both countries are part of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and both were once members of the CENTO alliance. Turkey receives a significant number of Iranian tourists every year,^[92][93] while Iran is a major natural gas supplier of Turkey. Turkish construction companies have undertaken important projects in Iran, such as the new Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran.^[94]

Facing strong domestic opposition in Turkey, a government motion to allow U.S. troops to attack Iraq from Turkey's border failed to reach the necessary majority in 2003. A primary concern for Turkey was an independent Kurdish state arising from a destabilised Iraq; it has previously fought an insurgent war on its own soil, in which an estimated 37,000 people lost their lives, against the PKK (listed as a terrorist organization by a number of states and organisations, including the U.S. and the EU).^[66]

The United States' reluctance to threaten the relative stability of northern Iraq by launching operations against the PKK led the Turkish Parliament to authorise a cross border military operation in 2007.^[69] On 22 February 2008, the Turkish Armed Forces launched a ground operation in northern Iraq against the PKK militants in a move described as the first significant Turkish ground offensive into Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003;^[95] the ground offensive was preceded by air strikes of the Turkish Air Force against the PKK camps in northern Iraq, which began on 16 December 2007.^[96] Turkey's armed forces stepped up their offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq on 27 February 2008 amid rising diplomatic tensions between Baghdad and Ankara;^[97] the Turkish military pulled out of northern Iraq on 29 February 2008.^[98] Turkish troops fired artillery shells into northern Iraq on 5 March 2008.^[99]

Current relations with Iraqi Kurdistan are good, which is important to help prevent a restart of the Kurdish–Turkish conflict and to diversify Turkey's energy sources.^[100][101]

Turkey was the first country with a Muslim majority to formally recognize the State of Israel, on 28 March 1949; before Israel was admitted to the United Nations on 11 May 1949;^[102] the founders of the State of Israel and prominent Israeli politicians such as David Ben-Gurion, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi and Moshe Shertok had all studied in the leading Turkish schools of Istanbul in their youth, namely Galatasaray High School and Istanbul University.

The history of the Jewish–Turkish relations dates back to 14th–16th centuries, when the Ottoman Sultan Beyazid II invited the Sephardic Jews fleeing the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions to settle in the Ottoman Empire; the later record of warm relations in the 19th century, when the British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, himself of Jewish origin, supported the Ottoman Empire in numerous disputes, particularly in the Berlin Congress of 1878. During the 1930s and 1940s, the Republic of Turkey again served as a safe haven for the European Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi-perpetrated Holocaust.^[103] A Turkish diplomat, Selahattin Ulkumen, is honoured as one of the Righteous Among The Nations for his work in rescuing Jews from Nazi officials on the island of Rhodes, by issuing them Turkish visas and later arranging for their transport to Turkish territory. Another diplomat, Necdet Kent, also rescued Jews from Nazi authorities, for which he was awarded a special medal by the government of the State of Israel.

During the late 20th century, Israel has been a major supplier of arms to Turkey. Military, strategic, and diplomatic cooperation between Turkey and Israel is accorded very high priority by the governments of both countries, which share concerns with respect to the regional instabilities in the Middle East.^[104][105] In the book Israel's Secret Wars,^{[page needed]} Benny Morris provides an account of how Mossad operatives based in Turkey infiltrated into Iraq and orchestrated a number of Iraqi Kurdish uprisings to weaken the Iraqi government, it has been reported that the Israeli Mossad played a role in the capture of the PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan in 1999.^[106] The Israeli and Turkish navies conducted joint exercises. Turkey also provided its large air space (something Israel lacks) to the jets of the Israeli Air Force for training purposes, particularly the area around the Konya Air Base in central Anatolia. There was a plan to build a massive pipeline from Turkey to supply water, electricity, gas and oil to Israel.^[107] In 2000, Israel and Turkey signed a Free Trade Agreement.^[108]

In the beginning of 2006, the Israeli Foreign Ministry characterized its relations with Turkey as "perfect". However, in February 2006, a visit paid by Khaled Meshal, leader of the newly elected Hamas, changed this status. Israeli diplomats went so far as to compare this visit to a possible official visit of Abdullah Öcalan (the imprisoned PKK leader) to Israel, but Turkish authorities immediately denounced this comparison as "irresponsible and erroneous".^{[citation needed]} After Khaled Meshal paid an official visit to Russia, Turkish–Israeli relations entered a "cooling down" process; some have suggested that this was only a public relations stunt to show the Islamic world that Turkey was on their side because Turkey had been silent in major issues important to Arabs and the Islamic community such as the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the Lebanon crisis.^[109]

New tensions arose in Turkish–Israeli relations during the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan became among the most outspoken critics of Israel's conduct in the war, referring to its military operations as a "crime against humanity".^[110] Although at political and military levels the two nations had continued to enjoy a close relationship, mass opinion in Turkey was turned sympathetic towards the Palestinians. Relations suffered a further blow when during the World Economic Forum in Davos at 29 January 2009, when Prime Minister Erdogan walked out of the forum in protest, frustrated that he had not been given enough time to reply to Israeli President Shimon Peres. Erdogan harshly criticized the President, stating Israel knew "very well how to kill".^{[111][112][113]}

• Japan has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate-general in Istanbul.^[114]
• Turkey has an embassy in Tokyo.^[115]
• There are 4.400 Turks living in Japan.
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relations with Japan

Turkey recognized Kazakhstan on 16 December 1991, on the same day Kazakhstan declared its independence. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 2 March 1992; these relations have developed positively on the international stage as well as in commerce and strategic affairs.^[116]

• Kazakhstan has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate general in Istanbul.
• Turkey has an embassy in Almaty and a branch office in Nur-Sultan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Turkey describes the current relations at "outstanding levels".^[117] Bilateral trade between the two countries is around 275 Million dollars; the two countries have recently signed fifteen agreements for cooperation in tourism, health, environment, economy, commercial exchange and oil.^[118]

Turkish President Abdullah Gül made a 26–28 June official visit to Bishkek where he met with Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev and Prime Minister Igor Chudinov to discuss bilateral relations, with Gül stating, "We have determined that we have a joint will with regard to our bilateral relations and multilateral relations. We share the conviction that we attach great importance to the stability of Afghanistan in particular and that we should provide all sorts of assistance regarding this issue."^[119][120] Gül subsequently announced, in a speech at the International Atatürk-Alatoo University (IAAU), that, "Kyrgyzstan is our ancestral homeland. We have felt at home in our ancestral homeland while we have been in Kyrgyzstan," and added, in a speech to the Jogorku Kenesh, that, "You are being represented in Europe through us, and were being represented in the Commonwealth of Independent States through you. I believe that this is important."^[121] He also laid the foundation stone for the new Turkish Embassy in Bishkek.

Turkey is one of Kyrgyzstan's major trade partners, it is estimated that some 30% of all imported goods sold at Bishkek's Dordoy Bazaar come from Turkey.^[122] It is estimated that some 400–500 Kyrgyzstan traders engage in "shuttle trade", regularly traveling to Turkey to purchase goods for sale in their (or others') shops in Kyrgyzstan's markets. With their knowledge of Kyrgyz and Uzbek languages, and many Istanbul merchant's familiarity with Russian, many Kyrgyzstan traders sometimes manage to do their purchasing in Turkey without having to learn the Turkish language.^[122]

There is academic exchange between the two countries as well. Turkey provides support for a number of universities in Kyrgyzstan, while many scholars from Kyrgyzstan are attracted to the opportunities to teach in Turkey.^[122] Also, Kyrgyz Republic is in Turkic Council.

On 27 December 2013, the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey had the following precis for that country's relations with Lebanon (hyperlinks added):^[123]

"Bilateral relations between Turkey and Lebanon gained a new momentum especially in the period following the visit of the late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri to Turkey in 2004. After this date, many mutual visits at the level of Prime Minister and Ministers were held and bilateral relations have experienced significant improvements in various fields.

At the regional level, the fair and constructive attitude in solving problems on the agenda, especially in the Arab–Israeli issue, is the common denominator between the Lebanese people and authorities' positive approach towards Turkey.

Including its proactive stance adopted during the July 2006 war, Turkey's efforts towards the solution of the political crisis in Lebanon, concluded with the signing of the Doha Agreement in November 2008, subsequent election of the President and the establishment of the government, have contributed to the positive image of Turkey vis-à-vis the Lebanese politicians and public opinion.

The initiatives undertaken by our Prime Minister and Minister in order to overcome the government crisis in Lebanon in the 2010–2011 periods were received with appreciation.

The operation carried out by Israel on the Mavi Marmara ship, carrying aid to Gaza, has caused great reaction in Lebanon. In many Lebanese cities support and solidarity demonstrations have been organized, Turkish flag has been raised alongside the Lebanese one.

Important bilateral agreements were signed during the period of intense relations and high-level visits in 2010, among which are:

• Agreement on Abolishment of Visa Requirement for Turkish and Lebanese Citizens, (11 January 2010)
• Training, Technical and Scientific Cooperation in the Military Field (Framework) Agreement (11 January 2010)
• Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture, (11 January 2010)
• Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Forestry, (11 January 2010)
• Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Recognition of Certificates Pursuant to Regulation 1/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (11 January 2010)
• Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Health (11 January 2010)
• Association Agreement between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Lebanon (Free Trade Agreement) (24 November 2010)
• Joint Political Declaration on the Establishment of High-Level Strategic Cooperation and Coordination Council (24 November 2010).

On the other hand, in the margin of the Turkish-Arab Forum held on 9–10 June 2010 in Istanbul, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, advanced the cooperation in the region by announcing the Joint Declaration on the establishment of Quadripartite High-Level Strategic Cooperation.

During the visit to Lebanon of H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, on 24–25 November 2010, the Joint Political Declaration on the establishment of the High Level Strategic Cooperation and Coordination Council was signed. Although the first meeting of the Council could not take place due to the government crisis in Lebanon, common works are underway for the agreements to be signed during this meeting."

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 May 1979.^[124][125]

• Turkey has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
• Malaysia has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Malaysia

• Mongolia has an embassy in Ankara.^[126]
• Turkey has an embassy in Ulaanbaatar.^[127]

Pakistan has an embassy in Ankara, a consulate-general in Istanbul and an honorary consulate in Izmir whereas, Turkey has an embassy in Islamabad, a Consulate-General in Karachi and honorary consulates in Lahore, Peshawar, Sialkot and Faisalabad. Relations between the two date back generations before the establishment of the two states, more precisely during the Turkish War of Independence when the Muslims of modern Pakistan sent financial aid to the declining Ottoman Empire which was followed by the formation of the Turkish Republic; as a result, Pakistan and Pakistanis have enjoyed a positive perception in Turkey and amongst Turks for many decades.

• Palestine has an embassy in Ankara
• Turkey has a consulate-general in Jerusalem accredited to Palestine.

Turkey established its resident embassy in Manila in 1990 and an honorary consulate in Cebu in 1992; the Philippines established its resident embassy in Ankara in October 1991.

Qatar and Turkey have improved relations for several years. Both countries mainly have cooperation over regional developments such as the civil war in Syria and the Egyptian crisis. However, analysts believe both countries' relations lack substance in terms of economic, cultural and social ties.^[129]

On 2 December 2015, during a Turkish presidential visit to Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad and Tayyip Erdoğan announced the planned creation of a Turkish military in Qatar; a first for Turkey in the Persian Gulf.^[130]

Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate–general in Istanbul.^[131] Turkey has an embassy in Riyadh and a consulate–general in Jeddah.^[132][133]

• The establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and South Korea began on 8 March 1957.

• Since 2012, Sri Lanka has an embassy in Ankara.^[135]
• Since 2013, Turkey has an embassy in Colombo.^[135]

Protest in London against Turkish military operation in Afrin, 31 March 2018

Syrian–Turkish relations have long been strained even though Turkey shares its longest common border with Syria and various other geographic, cultural, and historical links tie the two neighbouring states together; this friction has been due to disputes including the self annexation of the Hatay Province to Turkey in 1939, water disputes resulting from the Southeastern Anatolia Project, and Syria's support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Relations, in the form of recent trade agreements and joint military maneuvers, have improved greatly since October 1998, when PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was expelled by Syrian authorities.

The Turkish–Syrian relationship showed great improvement when Turkey and Syria have cancelled entry visas and signed joint declaration of strategic council in 2009.

Due to the 2011 Syrian uprising, Turkey has suspended diplomatic contact with Syria.^[136]

On 22. June 2012 the Syrian military shot down a Turkish F-4 Phantom fighter jet after it had entered Syrian airpsace over the Mediterranean Sea.^[137]

Turkey recognized the independence of Tajikistan on 16 December 1991 and established diplomatic relations on 29 January 1992; the Turkish Embassy in Dushanbe was opened on 4 August 1992 and the Tajik Embassy in Ankara was opened on 16 October 1995.

Turkey's relations with Tajikistan are considered within the framework of relations with other Central Asian republics but developed more slowly due to Tajikistan's internal war between 1992 and 1997. During this period the Turkish embassy in Dushanbe was the only diplomatic mission which remained open and the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel was the only high level visit to Tajikistan.

Turkmenistan is inhabited by Turkic people, who share a cultural affinity with Turks.

On February 1992 the principles for the cooperation of the Turkish Ministry of Education and the Turkmenistan Ministry of Sciences were determined. Since then at later meetings it has been discussed how Turkey and Turkmenistan can address their common problems in the field of education.^[138]

• Turkey has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate-general in Dubai.
• United Arab Emirates has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate-general in Istanbul.

• Turkey has an embassy in Tashkent.
• Uzbekistan has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate-general in Istanbul.

• Turkey has an embassy in Hanoi.
• Vietnam has an embassy in Ankara.^[139]
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Vietnam

• Albania has an embassy in Ankara and a general consulate in Istanbul.
• Turkey has an embassy in Tirana.
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes relations between Turkey and Albania as "excellent".^[146]

From the middle ages until the twentieth century today's Austria and Turkey were the core regions within much larger empires. Austria was the seat of the House of Habsburg and Turkey was ruled by the House of Osman (also known as the Ottoman Dynasty); the Habsburg and Ottoman states were both large multi-ethnic conglomerations sustained by conquest. These rival empires waged frequent wars against each other over control of much Central Europe and the Balkans.

• Bulgaria has an embassy in Ankara, 2 general consulates in Istanbul and Edirne and a chancellery in Bursa.
• Turkey has an embassy in Sofia and 2 general consulates in Plovdiv and Burgas.^[147]
• See also Turks in Bulgaria, Bulgarian embassies in Turkey
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Bulgaria

Turkey was the first country to recognize Belarus on 16 December 1991 after the declaration of its independence on 25 August 1991 and the two countries established formal diplomatic relations on 25 June 1992. Belarus has an embassy in Ankara and Turkey has an embassy in Minsk. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).^[148]

• Belgium has an embassy in Ankara, a consulate–general in Istanbul and two consulates in Antalya and İzmir.^[149]
• Turkey has an embassy in Brussels and a consulate–general in Antwerp.^[150][151]
• See also Turks in Belgium

• Bosnia and Herzegovina has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Sarajevo.

The Republic of Cyprus was established by the 1959–60 Agreements between Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom as a partnership state between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In 1963 violence erupted on the island following attempts to amend constitutional safeguards for Turkish Cypriots, leading to a separation of the two communities. A UN Peace-keeping Force (UNFICYP) was dispatched to the island in March 1964.

On 15 July 1974, the military Junta then ruling Greece staged a coup d'état in Cyprus which was aimed at materializing Enosis—Union with Greece—through an armed takeover of the island; this led to Turkey's military intervention under the Treaty of Guarantee. The international community, including the Republic of Cyprus considers it as an illegal invasion.

Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides reached an agreement in Vienna on 2 August 1975 for the "exchange of populations" under the auspices of the UN and this agreement was implemented by the mediation of the UN peace-keeping force; the two sides reached the first high level agreement following a meeting between Denktas and Makarios on 12 February 1977. This four article agreement envisaged the establishment of a bicommunal federal republic on the island.

However, in the north of the island Turkish Cypriots established on 15 November 1983 the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey. Turkey refers to the government of the Republic of Cyprus as the "Greek Cypriot Administration" and its presidents as "Greek Cypriot leaders."^[152]

A comprehensive peace plan negotiated with the full support of the international community was submitted to simultaneous but separate referenda in the North and South of Cyprus on 24 April 2004. While the Turkish Cypriots voted in favor of the Annan Plan by casting 67% of their votes, the Greek Cypriots rejected the solution with a 'No' vote of 76%. Republic of Cyprus represented by Greek Cypriots acceded to the EU on 1 May 2004; this in turn has led to tension with Turkey's own EU membership aspirations, with the Republic of Cyprus blocking eight chapters due to Turkey's refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot shipping.^[153] Turkey's position is that its ports will only be opened when the EU upholds its promise to end the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

Ottoman admiral, geographer and cartographer Piri Reis ' historical map of Cyprus.

The conflict has had wider ramifications in the EU-NATO relationship, with Turkey – a NATO member – blocking Cyprus from participating in EU-NATO meetings, and reducing the scope of talks only those to operations on which the EU and NATO are acting together.^[154]

Turkey announced its support for the 2004 Annan Plan for Cyprus; the plan was accepted by the Turkish Cypriots (but not by ⅔, although a simple majority was needed), but overwhelmingly (¾) rejected by the Greek Cypriots. Turkey continues to recognize the TRNC at the expense of the Cypriot government in the south, and thus far, the Turkish Embassy in (north) Nicosia is the only official diplomatic mission in the TRNC. Northern Cyprus also maintains a diplomatic mission in Turkey; the issue of recognition became a thorn in Turkey's candidacy for European Union membership, particularly after the internationally recognized south was admitted to the Union in 2004.

Acting in conformity with its statement during the EU's Brussels summit of 17 December 2004, Turkey signed the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement on 29 July 2005, before commencing accession talks with the EU; the protocol, which extends the 1963 Ankara Agreement to all members of the European Union (including Cyprus), was signed by exchange of letter between Turkey, the EU term presidency and the EU Commission. Simultaneously, Turkey issued a statement to the effect that the signature, adoption and implementation of the protocol would not in any way constitute recognition of the government of the Republic of Cyprus (which Turkey calls the Greek Cypriot Administration.)^[155]

In its 2007 annual handbook, the Turkish government states that "as a result of the policies pursued by the EU member, GCA [Cyprus], Turkish EU relations which would otherwise progress along their natural course suffer a number of problems"^[155]

• The relations date back 250 years and actually started in the field of trade in the 18th century. On 14 October 1756, an Agreement of Friendship and Trade was signed by the Sultan Osman III and the King Frederick V. In 1758, Denmark has appointed an extraordinary representative to the Ottoman Empire.
• Today, Denmark has an embassy in Ankara and an honorary consulate in Istanbul.^[157]
• Turkey has an embassy in Copenhagen.^[158]
• See also Turks in Denmark
• Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Turkey
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Denmark

• Turkey recognized the independence of Finland on 21 February 1918.
• Finland has an embassy in Ankara and an honorary consulate general in Istanbul and other honorary consulates in Belek, Bodrum and Izmir.^[159]
• Turkey has an embassy in Helsinki.^[160]
• See also Turks in Finland
• Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs about political, economical and commercial relations with Finland
• Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland about relations with Turkey

• France has an embassy in Ankara, and a consulate general in Istanbul.
• Turkey has an embassy in Paris and consulates general in Lyon, Marseille and Strasbourg.

Based on good Turkish-German relations from the 19th century onwards, Germany promoted a Turkish immigration to Germany. However, large scale didn't occur until the 20th century. Germany suffered an acute labor shortage after World War II and, in 1961, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) officially invited Turkish workers to Germany to fill in this void, particularly to work in the factories that helped fuel Germany's economic miracle; the German authorities named these people Gastarbeiter (German for guest workers). Most Turks in Germany trace their ancestry to Central and Eastern Anatolia. Today, Turks are Germany's largest ethnic minority and form most of Germany's Muslim minority. Relations with Turkey significantly deteriorated after the 2016–17 Turkish purges and Turkey's turn to authoritarianism including the arrest of journalists such as Die Welt's Deniz Yücel.

Prime Minister of Greece Konstantinos Mitsotakis (left) and Prime Minister of Turkey Süleyman Demirel in WEF, 1992.

Turkey and Greece have clashed for decades over the status of Aegean islands and over the extent of territorial waters and airspace; the tensions came to the brink of war on a number of occasions, most recently in 1996, when Greek and Turkish warships faced each other close to the disputed Imia-Kardak rocks. Only U.S. and NATO intervention subsided the conflict. In February 1999, relations between Greek officials and Abdullah Öcalan (holding a Greek Cypriot passport) and the role of the Greek Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, where Öcalan was captured by agents of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) caused crisis in relations between the two countries for a period of time; but relations have since improved, particularly following the earthquakes that struck both countries in 1999. However, the Imia/Kardak issue sprang up again on a smaller scale in 2004.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, November 2009

Aegean disputes constitute one of the main reasons for the fluctuating course of Turkish-Greek relations. There is a series of interconnected problems between Turkey and Greece, all emanating from the Aegean Sea; the length of territorial waters, demarcation of the continental shelf, determination of maritime search and rescue zones, air space disputes, militarization of the Eastern Aegean Islands in breach of international agreements, the status of certain Aegean islets which, Turkey claims, were not ceded to Greece by international agreements and the absence of an agreement defining maritime borders with Greece in the Aegean are the major disputes between the two countries. These disputes remain unresolved mainly because of a lack of common understanding between the two sides regarding the "existence" and "methods of solution" of the problems. Rejecting the existence of other disputes, Greece notes that the only dispute in the Aegean is the continental shelf issue and claims that it can only be resolved by jurisprudence.

Turkey's stated view is that the Aegean Sea is a common sea and that no sovereignty rights should be claimed over the open seas and international airspaces in the Aegean Sea.

Since August 1999, Turkey and Greece have conducted a series of "Confidence Building Measures" to improve relations concerning these matters.

On Monday 23 December 2011, in an interview on Turkish newspaper BirGün discussing secret budgets, former Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz allegedly admitted that Turkish secret agents intentionally started forest fires in Greece between 1995 and 1997 during the Prime Ministership of Tansu Çiller as retaliation of forest fires in western Turkey in 1995 started by Greek agents,^{[citation needed]} resulting in huge damage caused by major forest fires on the islands of the eastern Aegean and in Macedonia. Mesut Yılmaz's admission sparked political outrage in Greece, causing Greece's Foreign Ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras to say that the claims were "serious and must be investigated", adding that Athens was awaiting a briefing from Ankara. Conservative New Democracy's shadow foreign minister Panos Panayiotopoulos said the revelations "cast heavy shadows over Greek-Turkish relations" and called on Turkey recompense Greece for losses incurred.^[161][162] Following an official complaint from Greece on 24 December seeking clarification over comments by former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz relating to forest fires in Greece in the mid-1990s, the Greek and Turkish foreign ministers, Stavros Dimas and Ahmet Davutoğlu, spoke on Wednesday 28 December. Dimas stressed how important it was that Ankara investigate the claims that in the past Turkey's intelligence services paid arsonists to set fire to forests in Greece. In addition to Greek Foreign Ministry meetings with Turkish officials, Greece's Supreme Court prosecutor Yiannis Tentes launched an emergency inquiry on 27 December, ordering the investigations into the mid-1990s wildfires blamed on arson to be reopened with regard to the initial claims reportedly made by Yılmaz.^[163] Former head of Greek intelligence service Leonidas Vasilikopoulos said they had received information from their agents in Turkey that Turkish agents or others were involved in the forest fires on Greek islands.^[164] After making the comments in Turkish daily newspaper BirGün, Yılmaz said that his words had been distorted and that he was referring to Greek agents causing fires in Turkey.^[165] However, on Thursday 29, Turkish daily Milliyet published an article referring to a secret report that seemed to support claims made in the interview by Mesut Yilmaz that secret agents had caused forest fires in Greece in the 1990s. According to Milliyet, an associate of Yılmaz's, Kutlu Savas, compiled a 12-page report that detailed the actions of Turkish agents in Greece, it described how the National Intelligence Organization of Turkey (MIT) had formed two teams: one which carried out bombings at tourist sites on Crete and other parts of Greece and another which was responsible for starting the wildfires. An attack on an army camp in Lamia, central Greece, is also mentioned.^[166]

• The Holy See has a nunciature in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Rome accredited to the Holy See.

• Hungary has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate–general in Istanbul.
• Turkey has an embassy in Budapest.^[167]
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Hungary

Turkish Embassy in Oslo is accredited to Iceland, while the Icelandic Embassy in Copenhagen is accredited to Turkey.^[168]

• Ireland has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Dublin.^[169]
• See also Turks in Ireland
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Ireland

• Italy has an embassy in Ankara, a general consulate in Istanbul, a consulate İzmir and 3 honorary consulates in * Turkey has an embassy in Rome and a general consulate in Milan.^[170]
• Italian embassy in Ankara
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Italy

On 17 February 2008, Turkey became one of the first countries to announce officially about recognition of sovereign Kosovo. Turkey turned its coordination office in Pristina into an embassy after a cabinet decision to open a mission in Kosovo; the decision comes in accordance with the reciprocity principle common in diplomatic relations, when Kosovo announced that it was planning to open one of its first foreign missions in Ankara.^[171] The population of Kosovars^{[clarification needed]} living in Turkey is said to be much more than those living in Kosovo.^{[172][unreliable source?]} Kosovo is the home country of Mehmet Akif Ersoy, writer of the Turkish National Anthem, and many others. There are 20,000 Turks living in Kosovo;^[173] also Turkish is one of the official regional languages of Kosovo.

• Malta is represented in Turkey through accrediting a Maltese Ambassador resident in Valletta to Turkey and through its consulate general in Istanbul.
• Turkey has an embassy in Valletta.
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Malta

• Moldova has an embassy in Ankara.^[174]
• Turkey has an embassy in Chişinău.
• There are around 11,000 Turks who live in Moldova.
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Moldova

Due to historical and cultural mutualities and human bonds, North Macedonia and Turkey have very close and friendly relations.

• North Macedonia has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate–general in Istanbul.
• Turkey has an embassy in Skopje and a consulate-general in Bitola.

• Poland has an embassy in Ankara, and a general consulate in Istanbul.^[175]
• Turkey has an embassy in Warsaw.
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Poland

Turkey's 161 years of political relations with Portugal date back to the Ottoman period when Viscount de Seixal was appointed as an envoy to Istanbul. Diplomatic relations ceased during World War I and were re-established in the Republican period in 1926. A resident embassy was established in 1957. Portugal has an embassy in Ankara.^[176] Turkey has an embassy in Lisbon. Both countries are full members of NATO.

• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Portugal

• Romania has an embassy in Ankara and two consulates-general in Istanbul and İzmir.
• Turkey has an embassy in Bucharest and a consulate-general in Constanţa.
• See also Turks of Romania
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Romania

Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Silvio Berlusconi in Turkey in November 2005

Following immediately after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, relations between the two nations dramatically and strongly improved; although disagreements regarding the border dispute over the Caucasus and support of each other's lifelong historical adversaries both linger. Russia is somewhat skeptical of Turkey's admission into the European Union and has recognized the Armenian Genocide which has the potential of damaging its relations with Turkey, but both countries are key strategic partners in the Transcaucasian region.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan flew to Sochi, Russia, for a 16 May 2009 "working visit" with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at which he stated, "Turkey and Russia have responsibilities in the region. We have to take steps for the peace and well being of the region; this includes the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, the Middle East dispute, the Cyprus problem." Putin responded that, "Russia and Turkey seek for such problems to be resolved and will facilitate this in every way," but, "As for difficult problems from the past – and the Karabakh problem is among such issues – a compromise should be found by the participants in the conflict. Other states which help reach a compromise in this aspect can play a role of mediators and guarantors to implement the signed agreements." Whilst on the subject of energy security Erdoğan stated that, "The agreement on gas supplies through the so-called Western route signed in 1986 is expiring in 2012. We have agreed today to immediately start work to prolong this agreement."^[177][178] Putin made a reciprocal visit to Turkey in June.^[179]

In November 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft, due to an alleged violation of its airspace, and since then relations have deteriorated significantly. During a Russian military briefing in December, officials from the Russian Defense Ministry accused Turkey of purchasing and smuggling in oil from ISIL in Syria; the officials provided alleged videos and photos of the smuggling as evidence.^{[180][181][182]} The claims were quickly dismissed by much of the international community after analysts revealed that the supposed smuggling routes were not under ISIL control.^[183] Russia later accused Turkey of deploying troops in Iraq without the permission of Iraqi government authorities.^[184]

In 2017, Turkey had signed a controversial deal with Russia to arm its forces with Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles; the €2.14bn deal had sparked concern over Turkey's increasingly closer ties with Russia and its recent souring of relations with the US and Europe. Turkey, which has been a NATO member since 1952, currently has troubled ties with the US over Washington's support of the YPG Syrian Kurd militia which Ankara considers a terror group. Turkey's NATO membership means it would typically require the purchasing of weapons systems to be approved by the defence bloc. With tensions between NATO and Russia being at their highest since the Cold War, the move would be seen as a calculated snub to the alliance.^[185]

Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül and Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac met in Ankara on 12 May 2009 to sign a defence cooperation agreement. Gönül stated that, "Although we do not have a common border, we see Serbia as a neighbour," and, "Turkey desires to maintain and improve its relations with Serbia the most, among all the other Balkan states." Šutanovac confirmed that, "There are a lot of things to do in this field,"^[186] and, "We are thinking of taking some initiatives in the defense industry together, like co-production in Turkey or Serbia."^[187]

• Spain has an embassy in Ankara.
• Turkey has an embassy in Madrid.^[188]
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Spain

• Sweden, which took over the rotating presidency of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in July 2009, supports Turkey's European Union membership.^[189][190]
• Sweden's Green Party has criticized France and Germany's opposition to Turkey's membership.^[191][192]
• On 12 June 2008, the Parliament of Sweden recognized the 1915 events as genocide.^[193]
• See also Turks in Sweden
• Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Sweden
• Turkish embassies in Sweden
• Swedish embassy in Ankara

Turkey and Ukraine have a long chronology of historical, geographic, and cultural contact. Diplomatic relations between both countries were established in the early 1990s when Turkey became one of the first states in the world to announce officially about recognition of sovereign Ukraine.^[194] Turkey has an embassy in Kiev and a consulate general in Odessa.^[195] Ukraine has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate general in Istanbul.^[196] Turkey is a full member of NATO and Ukraine is a candidate; also both countries are BLACKSEAFOR and BSEC members.

Both countries currently maintain relations via the British Embassy in Ankara^[197] and the Turkish Embassy in London.^[198]

Turkey and the United Kingdom maintain strong bilateral relations;^[199] the President of Turkey Cevdet Sunay paid a state visit to the United Kingdom in November 1967.^[200] The President of Turkey Kenan Evren paid a state visit to the United Kingdom in July 1988.^[200] HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom paid state visits to Turkey in October 1971, and in May 2008.^[201] Britain and Turkey are both members of the G20, and Britain supports the accession of Turkey to the European Union.

Memorial of ANZAC Cove; commemorating the loss of thousands of Turkish and Anzac soldiers in Gallipoli

Diplomatic relations between the two countries established in 1967. Australia has an embassy in Ankara since 1968, a consulate-general in Istanbul and a consulate in Çanakkale. Turkey has an embassy in Canberra since 1967 and two consulates-general in Melbourne and Sydney.

The first encounter of Turkey and Australia was on the battlefields of Çanakkale.

The Turkish Embassy in Canberra is accredited to Nauru.^[202]

The relationship between Turkey and New Zealand is excellent, with great mutual respect based on the ANZAC traditions forged in the Battle of Gallipoli. Governor-General of New Zealand Sir Anand Satyanand visited Turkey for the annual commemoration of Anzac Day on 25 April 2009 stating that his country was "Turkey's traditional ally," and the Gallipoli battles commemorated, "are the first example of friendship created on the battlefield; this understanding owes its existence mostly to the peace building words of Atatürk." He also wished Turkey luck with its EU accession bid and waited on the successful outcome for prospective trade opportunities.^[203]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 30, 1979.^[204]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 April 1979.^[205][206]

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 March 1979.^[207]
• Turkey is represented in the Solomon Islands via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Canberra, Australia.^[207]