Eurofighter Diplomacy and the Turkish Century Debate: Are Turkish-Origin Leaders Assuming a Global Role?
Turkish-origin politicians such as Serap Güler in Germany and Rustem Umerov in Ukraine are shaping a new global influence strategy, strengthening Turkey’s “Turkish Century” vision through diplomacy and multicultural leadership.
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Eurofighter Diplomacy and the “Turkish Century” Debate: Are Turkish-Origin Leaders Assuming a Global Role?
YUSUF İNAN / YEREL GÜNDEM / BERLIN
The symbolic weight of the Berlin meetings
A striking detail emerged in President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s diplomatic push to acquire Eurofighter jets from Germany: Erdoğan’s Chief Advisor for Foreign Policy and Security, Akif Çağatay Kılıç, held talks in Berlin with Germany’s Minister of State at the Foreign Office, Serap Güler — herself the daughter of Turkish guest workers, born and raised in Germany, and now serving in a top government position. This is not only symbolically powerful but strategically significant.
During his visit, Kılıç also met with Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Ministry of Defense Nils Schmid and the Chairman of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee, Armin Laschet. Discussions focused on defense industry cooperation as well as issues faced by the Turkish community in Germany. Yet the presence of Serap Güler at the table has raised questions over whether Turkish-German relations might be entering a new era.
A “Turkish Century” vision: a new global perspective?
In recent years, the number of Turkish-origin or Turkish-speaking politicians, diplomats, and senior officials has been growing not only in Germany but also in the UK and Ukraine. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the Ottoman-descended former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and about 20 Turkish-origin members of the German Bundestag and state governments — not to mention Thomas Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara of Ottoman ancestry — all stand out. Taken together, these developments strengthen Ankara’s ambitions for a so-called “Turkish Century” on the international stage.
This trend should not be seen merely as a diaspora success story, but as a sign of Turkey’s rising soft power. The growing presence of millions of Turkish-origin citizens in political, economic, and diplomatic positions in Germany alone could represent a new strategic depth for Ankara.
A potential contribution to peace and democracy
Serap Güler’s rise, as a woman of immigrant background to the position of Minister of State at Germany’s Foreign Office, is a powerful success story for people of Turkish descent. Likewise, Defense Minister Umerov’s Crimean Tatar heritage and fluency in Turkish have made him a natural bridge in the strategic rapprochement between Turkey and Ukraine.
These profiles show that Turkish-origin actors have the capacity not just to represent their countries of origin, but also to contribute to peace, democracy, and human rights in their adopted homelands. In this sense, integration and a mission to support universal values go hand in hand.
Turkish influence in global politics
Examples from Germany, the UK, Ukraine, and even Iran suggest that the “Turkish world” is forging stronger ties with Western democracies, Europe, and the broader Eurasian region. Turkey’s diplomatic capability, supported by diaspora-origin politicians, is evolving into a multidimensional network with global outreach.
Experts argue this trend will not only raise the political representation of the Turkish diaspora in coming years, but also enable Turkey to operate more effectively in areas like defense industry, trade, cultural diplomacy, and crisis management, thanks to “multilingual” and “multi-identity” representatives.
A strategic advantage?
In this context, having someone like Serap Güler as a counterpart in Germany during Erdoğan’s Eurofighter initiative presents a strategic opportunity beyond symbolism. Negotiating through representatives who share similar language and cultural codes can minimize misunderstandings and accelerate talks.
In conclusion, the growing role of Turkish-origin or Turkish-speaking politicians in centers like Germany, Ukraine, and the UK could become a key dimension of a “Turkish Century” vision, contributing to peace, democracy, and multicultural values at a time of shifting global balances. If Turkey manages to leverage this network wisely, it could emerge not only as a nation protecting its own interests, but also as a stabilizing force supporting international peace and security.
