Republic of Turkey
Background
The Republic of Turkey is the sovereign state that governs the territory of Türkiye, a transcontinental country centered in Anatolia with a smaller part in Southeast Europe. As a unitary presidential republic, it exercises authority over domestic administration, foreign policy, national security, and the legal and economic framework of a population of more than 86 million. Its strategic location between Europe, Asia, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East gives it major significance in regional diplomacy, trade, transport, and energy transit.
State power is organized through a presidential system with the capital in Ankara, which houses the main institutions of government and foreign representation. Istanbul remains the largest city and the country’s principal economic center, while other major urban centers include İzmir, Bursa, and Antalya. Turkey’s public administration, diplomatic service, armed forces, and regulatory institutions operate within a centralized national framework, and the state is a member of major international groupings including NATO, the G20, and the OECD. It is also an EU candidate country and part of the EU Customs Union, reflecting its institutional links to both Europe and broader Eurasian affairs.
Modern Turkey emerged from the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish War of Independence, after which the Republic was proclaimed on 29 October 1923 under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Since then, the state has undergone periods of political reform, military intervention, and institutional change, while maintaining its core republican framework. In the contemporary period, Turkey has remained active in regional diplomacy and security issues, including engagement with Russia on Middle East tensions, as reflected in recent discussions between Russian and Turkish officials in Moscow. Its current priorities include managing regional instability, sustaining economic growth, and maintaining its role as a major power at the intersection of Europe and Asia.
Timeline
Turkey’s ambassador in Moscow, T. Bilgiç, discussed Middle East tensions and efforts to reduce escalation with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister G.E. Borisenko.
Press Release: On the Meeting Between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia G.E. Borisenko and Turkish Ambassador to Moscow T. Bilgiç
Documents
Press Release: On the Meeting Between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia G.E. Borisenko and Turkish Ambassador to Moscow T. Bilgiç
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Borisenko met with Turkey's ambassador in Moscow to discuss Middle East tensions and coordinate efforts to reduce escalation following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.