Head of Communications Duran said, "Now, within the broader world order, what are we, as Türkiye, trying to achieve?" First and foremost, by strengthening Türkiye’s strategic autonomy and enhancing its capacities across all fields, we are trying to manage emerging risks and seize new opportunities on the basis of our national interests, without becoming directly involved in wars or taking sides.
Speaking at the Western Platform Programme held at İstanbulAydın University (IAU), the Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, said they were living in a time when a new world was replacing the old one, but it had not yet been founded, raising concerns about how it would be built.
Noting that they were in a time when it was constantly asked how artificial intelligence would change the world, Head of Communications Duran said, "From where we are now, the world is moving toward an order in which technological rivalry will be shaped by geopolitical struggles, with other regions positioning themselves accordingly."
Head of Communications Duran stated that the world is moving toward a multipolar system, adding, "It is unclear how this multipolar world will ultimately take shape. In other words, what those poles will be and how they will align with one another is still unclear. However, everyone agrees that establishing a liberal order that encompasses the entire world can no longer be established, and, to be honest, the institutions created by this order are not functioning. It was not established in a fair manner to begin with." Head of Communications Duran also noted:
“The state the UN finds itself in today, especially when viewed through the lens of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’sunequivocal statements that ‘The world is bigger than five’ and ‘A fairer world is possible’...” From this perspective, I believe the Gaza genocide has been the final nail in the coffin of this order. It also laid bare how the universal values that the West has long claimed to teach or promote to the world can be sacrificed for the sake of a particular country whenever it suits its interests, despite significant backlash even from its publics. Surely, values like justice, human rights, freedom, equality, and others remain extremely vital. What has disappeared, however, is the legitimacy of the Western-dominated countries that claim to have built an order upon these principles.
Head of Communications Duran stated that Türkiye does not have to Westernise, saying, "We are in the midst of an initiative to contribute to modernity and produce modernity with our own unique stance."
"Europe has entered a phase in which it may find it very difficult to uphold certain values"
Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran noted that they were witnessing divergence between the United States and Europe across multiple dimensions, saying, "Today, we are seeing even the traditional alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States begin to evolve in different directions. We know that Europe is highly fragmented internally. There, too, the rise of the far right has toppled several governments. In the future, Europe, without the US security umbrella, has entered a phase in which it may find it very difficult to uphold those values — not only in the case of the Gaza genocide but in other areas as well,” he said.
Head of Communications Duran stated that it is well known that Türkiye has long stood out as a nation more accustomed to and capable of withstanding crises, thanks to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's perspective and particularly the resilience it has shown since 2016, and added:
"The fact that Türkiye has delivered the clearest message against the genocide in Gaza, Israel’s massacres, and regional expansionism — and that this stance has found resonance across the world — demonstrates that Türkiye is, in fact, standing on the right side of this issue and preparing accordingly. Now, within the broader framework of the world order, what are we, as Türkiye, trying to achieve? First and foremost, by strengthening Türkiye’s strategic autonomy and enhancing its capacities across all fields, we are trying to manage emerging risks and seize new opportunities on the basis of our national interests, without becoming directly involved in wars or taking sides. Meanwhile, Türkiye is developing both ideas and policies aimed first at establishing a regional order beginning in its immediate region and subsequently contributing to the global order. The central objective and efforts of President Erdoğan and his team are shaped around this vision. This is not an easy task."
Referring to "regional ownership", Head of Communications Duran stated that they seek to achieve progress together with the countries of the region, adding, "Following the Iran War, a very serious tension emerged between Iran and the Gulf countries. Prior to the war, there was intense rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Bringing these countries together is extremely difficult, yet it has now become evident that American bases are unable to protect the Gulf countries against Iran’s attacks. This clearly and unequivocally points to the need for a new security architecture. It highlights the value of efforts to establish a regional order through bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral mechanisms among countries."
Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran stated that it was no coincidence that Türkiye’s performance during the US-Israel-Iran war and the Gaza genocide had been widely appreciated, adding that this was a policy implemented within the framework of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's vision.
"Conventional media in Türkiye has certain problems"
Head of Communications Duran noted that Türkiye’s communication landscape consists of both a conventional media sphere and a second layer shaped by digital and social media platforms.
Emphasising the growing influence of social media and the digital sphere, Head of Communications Duran said, "Conventional media in Türkiye has certain problems. In particular, given the large number of media groups, maintaining their financial sustainability is not easy. More importantly, public interest is gradually shifting away from conventional media... This transformation has not yet been fully realised in Türkiye, and conventional media remains valuable. However, when we look at younger generations, we see them gravitating toward other platforms. We are moving toward an environment in which television screens are used less frequently."
Pointing out that their fundamental approach is centred on ensuring the truth is known, Head of Communications Duran stated that Türkiye is among the countries most heavily targeted by disinformation attacks worldwide.
Recalling the recent Cyber Security Board Meeting, Head of Communications Duran said, "We are talking about a world in which everything — from companies’ data and personal information to the critical institutions of the state — is at risk. Capacity building is one of the most important agenda items of our government. We must recognise the challenges brought by emerging developments, particularly artificial intelligence. At the very least, there are lessons to be learned from the attacks carried out against Iran. There are also challenges brought by technology, especially in the cyber and digital domains."
The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Aydın University, Prof. Mustafa Aydın, platform members, and participants from various sectors
