Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Grand National Assembly of Türkiye and AK Party Ankara MP Fuat Oktay delivered remarks at the “A New Framework for the Global Order: A Strategic Communication Perspective” panel, held as part of the International Strategic Communication Summit (STRATCOM) under the theme “Disruption in the International System: Crises, Narratives and the Search for Order” at a hotel in Beşiktaş.
Addressing the dynamics unfolding in times of chaos, Oktay underscored the importance of credibility and trustworthiness. Noting the power competition between the West and the East, he said Türkiye is positioned at the intersection of both. “We are in communication with both the East and the West; we are able to understand them. We are in a position that allows us to engage with both sides. As a country, this is a truly significant advantage that provides us with a competitive edge. Thanks to this, we are able to engage with nearly every conflict zone, establishing communication on the basis of trust,” he said.
Oktay stressed that building trust is not limited to crisis management but also plays a decisive role in policymaking processes. He added that reducing uncertainty is made possible by a domestically established climate of trust, supported by strong and credible leadership.
Oktay said that chaotic environments affect not only administrative structures but also sectors such as energy and communications simultaneously, adding that they anticipate these impacts in advance and develop policies accordingly. Oktay went on to say,
“This may not be widely recognised, but the transformation of Türkiye’s system of government was one of the most significant developments. The transition from the parliamentary system to the Presidential System enabled a much stronger decision-making process. Implementing this change during such a period also provided considerable flexibility. In times of crisis and chaos, flexibility is essential for transformation. You need to be agile and able to make swift yet high-quality decisions. Through the Presidential System, we have achieved this. Moreover, having a trustworthy leader—one who inspires confidence not only among citizens but also among world leaders—is critically important.”
Underlining that the current governance architecture has ensured strong coordination and a climate of trust, Oktay said direct communication among leaders has been established, which is also reflected in communication with citizens. He added that effective communication between the President and state institutions has positively influenced decision-making processes and contributed to strengthening trust.
“The Directorate of Communications centralised accurate and reliable information”
Oktay noted that the level of trust is directly linked to translating commitments into action, adding that keeping promises makes leadership more credible and trustworthy, and that Türkiye has achieved significant success in this regard.
He emphasised that the establishment of the Directorate of Communications has played a critical role in strategic communication by centralising accurate and reliable information and disseminating it to all relevant stakeholders. Messages built on verified, data-driven information, he said, are effectively conveyed both domestically and to the international public, with the process successfully managed through the Directorate.
Referring to crisis periods, Oktay stated that dedicated coordination units are established for relevant sectors, noting that during the pandemic, all steps were taken in a planned and coordinated manner under the leadership of the Ministry of Health. He also warned that disinformation poses a serious threat, particularly in times of crisis, and highlighted the effective work of the Centre for Combating Disinformation, established within the Directorate of Communications.
Oktay stated that the timely delivery of accurate information, the centralised collection of data, and effective inter-agency coordination play a critical role in enhancing policy effectiveness and in pre-emptively building trust.
He noted that the attempted coup of 15 July 2016 clearly demonstrated the importance of trust and communication, pointing out that citizens taking to the streets in response to a swift call reflected that trust.
Recalling the early stages of the Syrian civil war, Oktay said they had anticipated the onset of a major crisis. He added, “When the civil war began in Syria, I was one of the founding directors of AFAD, and we immediately recognised that a large-scale migration crisis was imminent. We addressed this at the presidential level. We said, ‘We will pursue a fully open-door policy.’ At the time, this was heavily criticised politically in Türkiye. However, at the presidential level, all institutions remained consistent, and we said, ‘We cannot ignore what is happening in Syria.’”
Oktay added that, as AFAD, they adopted a holistic approach to receiving refugees from Syria and meeting their most basic needs.
“We developed a system and said, ‘Coordination will be carried out by AFAD.’ Through this approach, we were able to receive more than five million refugees. It has been over 12 years, and there are still more than two million refugees. The entire world has wondered how we managed this—how we coped with such large numbers. In fact, the state and the public were aligned. You need to communicate this clearly to your citizens, explain the situation nationwide, and convince people why you are pursuing such a policy. Once you are able to convince your own citizens and deliver policy messages in a clear and concise manner, the rest—while not easy—becomes operationally manageable,” he said.
Touching on U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, Oktay said:
“This is not America’s war; it is Israel’s war, and the entire world—including American citizens—is paying the price. Governments may not fully recognise this, but I was there briefly and met with senators, representatives from both sides, universities, and think tanks. No one was clear about what was happening. Even as of today, we can say that U.S. involvement in Iran has not been approved by Congress. In other words, this is not a legitimate war. If you cannot convince your own Congress or your own people, how will you convince the rest of the world? Why are you there? Now, the entire world is discussing the issue of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. It was open just yesterday. So what is the reason for this war? Israel’s war must not spill over into the wider region,” he said.
“We have stated that this war is unjust and that it is Israel’s war”
Concluding his remarks, Oktay said:
“This is not just an issue concerning Iran. The world must say ‘enough’ and oppose what is happening. In terms of strategic communication, if you do not have a sound mission and policy, you cannot convince your own Congress, your public, your partners, or your stakeholders. It becomes impossible to achieve any outcome. We have applied this in our own operations. Policymaking is a critical matter. As Türkiye, our position, stance, and policy are clear, and we communicate this to the entire world. We have stated that this war is unjust and that it is Israel’s war. We have emphasised that it must not spread, particularly to the Gulf region. As Türkiye, we will do everything we can—provided that this war comes to an end, that a ceasefire is established and sustained as soon as possible, and that a peace agreement can be reached between the parties. This applies equally to the Russia–Ukraine conflict and to Gaza.”