A Security Perspective on Turkey-Africa Relations: Analysis of Smart Power Strategy

Abstract

Somalia and soft power diplomacy in East Africa has been the first and most important step in Turkey's engagement with the African continent. In this way, with its opening to Africa initiative and investments in Somalia, Turkey has demonstrated to the international community that it will be among the important actors contributing to the future of the African community. Today, starting from East Africa, Turkey has been developing and strengthening its influence and presence in many regions of Africa, including North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Sahel Region, through its multidimensional foreign policy. Moreover, it has successfully supported its soft power diplomacy in the continent with its initiatives in the field of the defense industry and its Smart Power strategy and has come to the forefront as a security partner of the African countries.