Insight Turkey / issues

Editor's Note | Spring 2025

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 12:27:00 GMT

Emerging technologies are also transforming the political dimensions of state power and sovereignty. Technologies such as semiconductors, 5G infrastructure, cloud computing, and big data are no longer neutral tools of efficiency, they have become strategic assets wielded by states and corporations alike as instruments of foreign policy, economic leverage, and geopolitical coercion.

Türkiye’s National Technology Move amid Global Shifts

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:01:00 GMT

This commentary examines Türkiye’s National Technology Move as a timely and determined response to major shifts in the global industrial and geopolitical landscape. Far beyond a conventional policy plan, it signals a decisive commitment to advancing technological capability and achieving innovation leadership on the global stage. By highlighting tangible progress in key areas—such as indigenous defense systems, electric mobility, satellite programs, artificial intelligence, and the twin digital-green transformation—it shows how strategic coherence across policy, industry, and talent can build sustainable technological capacity. Finally, it argues that Türkiye’s commitment to technological sovereignty and inclusive innovation will shape its role as a trusted producer, global partner, and inspiring example for other emerging economies navigating the complex dynamics of the 21st century’s technology-driven global order.

Key Advances in the Research, Development, and Innovation Ecosystem of Türkiye

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:17:00 GMT

This commentary outlines Türkiye’s significant progress in advancing its research, development, and innovation (RDI) ecosystem, led by TÜBİTAK in alignment with the National Technology Move and the Twelfth Development Plan. Key strategic objectives include fostering high-technology production, enabling digital and green transitions, and boosting global competitiveness. TÜBİTAK plays a central role in supporting artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and aerospace advancements through national infrastructure, human capital development, and international cooperation. Highlights include the development of Türkiye’s national supercomputer, a Turkish Large Language Model, and breakthroughs in quantum sensing and post-quantum cryptography. TÜBİTAK also mobilizes young talent through TEKNOFEST and Deneyap Ateliers while strengthening bilateral scientific ties. The establishment of the National Quantum Institute and the successful launch of the indigenous satellite TÜRKSAT 6A are key milestones. This integrated and impact-driven ecosystem positions Türkiye as a global actor, shaping the future of critical technologies in line with its vision for 2053.

Digital Geopolitics and U.S.-China Competition

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:29:00 GMT

The wide range of digital technologies, coupled with their strategic indispensability, not only reshapes traditional international relations; it systematically institutionalizes digital geopolitics as an emergent field in which technological capabilities become the new currency of state power. The profound convergence of digital technologies, including information and communication technologies (ICTs), big data, and artificial intelligence (AI), with human society and daily life, consequently, further amplifies the influence of digital geopolitics on great power competition. The leading status of the technological landscape between the U.S. and China is set to solidify further, both in terms of material strength and the international community's recognition. Simultaneously, the profound impact of U.S.-China tech competition on the power architecture of the digital space demands scrutiny: What strategic assets and competitive advantages are these nations vying for within this contested domain? Will these two powers indeed converge toward a tech Cold War? The resolutions to this complex array of questions will prove instrumental in determining the trajectory of the future international order, with a focus on how U.S.-China competition over digital technologies redefines global strategic balance.

AI Technologies in Intercultural Communication: Opportunities or Consequences?

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:34:00 GMT

This paper examines the application of technologies in the context of intercultural communication to determine the opportunities and consequences associated with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The use of technology of different forms can be remarkable tools that offer effective channels to help bridge cultural barriers, promote knowledge of shared interests and navigate challenges associated with accessing people at different locations. With a focus on AI, this paper evaluates the impacts of AI technologies on human communication. It further examines the social consequences of AI attributes, the opportunities resulting from AI usage in transforming the world into a digital age. The extent to which AI technologies may result in difficulties were identified using examples from different regions. As a result, rational deduction from this paper is to adopt AI technologies in the context of intercultural communication with caution, understanding its dual effects on communication outcomes in a diverse, yet digital world.

The Global Data Supply-Chain for Artificial Intelligence and Its Paradoxes

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:40:00 GMT

Data are a crucial aspect of deep learning models and the groundwork for contemporary artificial intelligence. While it is common to point out biases within datasets, far less attention has been given to the global relations that make data and the limits of representing complex scenarios associated with conflict. This paper makes three interventions: (1) it describes how the idea of a global supply chain applies not only to the semiconductors needed for large-scale AI workloads but also to data; (2) it points out that a global data supply chain cannot be analogized to natural resources because data are representations; and (3) it considers the limitations of large-language models to address complexity and uncertainty through a ChatGPT analysis of the current conflicts in the Sahel. Without deeper consideration of the limits of data collection and uncertainties that will persist in conflict, military AI will not function as expected. Worldwide, we need deeper debate about the purpose of military AI, as the technology alone cannot be an end unto itself.

President Xi Jinping’s Perception of the Main Entities in Technological Innovation and China’s Technological Innovation System

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:48:00 GMT

China has developed a distinct technological innovation system through its innovation-driven development strategy, positioning enterprises as key drivers. Different enterprise types contribute uniquely, while national laboratories lead in frontier research. The country is restructuring State Key Laboratories and strengthening discipline-based ones. Research institutes and universities form the core of scientific advancement and talent cultivation, with mission-driven institutions addressing major national challenges. Key regions like Beijing, Shanghai, and the Greater Bay Area are being developed into global innovation hubs with broad influence. This commentary will analyze these components in detail.

Reflection on ADF2025: AI as Silent Superpower and Influencer for Africa

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:03:00 GMT

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) 2025 convened during a time of global uncertainty, marked by conflicts, trade rivalries, and escalating AI-driven competition. Against this backdrop, Africa and Türkiye’s roles in diplomacy gained prominence, emphasizing equitable North-South and South-South partnerships. A key panel addressed Artificial Intelligence as a ‘silent superpower,’ exploring both its promise and its peril in shaping the global order. While AI holds the potential for solving complex challenges through investment in education, research, and collaboration, it also risks deepening global inequalities and undermining human agency. Particular attention was paid to Africa’s AI trajectory, from data governance to talent development and regulatory hurdles. The panel stressed the urgency of ethical frameworks, human-centered design, and international cooperation to ensure AI enhances global equity. ADF2025 catalyzed critical conversations on diplomacy and digital power, reaffirming Türkiye’s convening role in a fragmented international system. As a speaker on the panel, I will summarize my remarks in this commentary.

Geopolitical Implications of Israel’s June 13 Attacks against Iran: Changing Regional Power Balances

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:03:00 GMT

This commentary analyses Israel’s simultaneous air, cyber, and covert strike against Iran on June 13, 2025, from a regional security perspective. It explores the operation’s impact on Iran’s military doctrine and nuclear program, the coercive diplomacy dimension of U.S.–Israeli strategic coordination, and the repercussions for Tehran’s deterrence capability. The findings show that integrating superior technology with advanced intelligence assets has recalibrated the conflict’s dynamics, exposing vulnerabilities in Iran’s decision-making and response mechanisms even as its capacity for retaliation endures. The study also assesses the long-term implications of Türkiye’s mediation initiatives and the region’s heightened defense measures for Middle Eastern power balances. It concludes that the June 13 operation underscores the potential of cutting-edge military technologies to reshape the regional security architecture.

Artificial Intelligence in National Security: Strategic Priorities of Türkiye and the UAE

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 17:18:00 GMT

Although there is widespread convergence about the importance of artificial intelligence (AI), there is less clarity regarding which aspects of the technology states prioritize. Using Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as case studies, we argue that states seek to reap both long-term and short-term benefits from AI. In the long term, they consider keeping pace with AI advancements essential for maintaining their countries’ economic and strategic competitiveness. At the same time, even before AI reaches its full potential, it already delivers significant strategic advantages, ranging from improvements in training and logistics to advancements in autonomous systems and cybersecurity. Given limited resources, states prioritize investing in the proven capabilities of AI that address their existing strategic needs. By allocating resources to cultivating a skilled AI workforce and advancing research and development efforts, both Türkiye and the UAE demonstrate a commitment to the ‘long game.’ In terms of short-term priorities, Türkiye has applied AI to enhance its counter-terrorism efforts, while the UAE has leveraged AI to mitigate its manpower constraints.

Reinforcing Strategic Autonomy through Technological Power: Türkiye’s Position in the Emerging Technopolar Order

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:28:00 GMT

This article examines Türkiye’s strategic transformation into an emerging digital power within the context of the evolving technopolar international order. It argues that Türkiye’s pursuit of technological sovereignty, through investments in AI, defense innovation, digital infrastructure, and indigenous research, is not merely an economic or developmental ambition but a deliberate effort to enhance strategic autonomy and recalibrate its foreign policy positioning. Drawing on a theoretical framework that integrates offensive realism, constructivist insights, and strategic autonomy theory, the study explores how technological capacity has become central to Türkiye’s identity formation, regional influence, and global aspirations. The analysis is empirically grounded in the findings of the TechPulse Türkiye 2025 report, which captures the country’s technological advancements and their broader geopolitical implications. The article concludes that Türkiye’s case exemplifies how rising powers can transition from technology consumers to autonomous actors shaping the rules of the emerging global order.

Türkiye’s Cybersecurity, Critical Infrastructure, and National Resilience in a Technopolar World Order

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:21:00 GMT

In an era where cybersecurity has become a defining element of global power competition and national security, Türkiye is developing its cyber capabilities to protect its critical infrastructures, ensure national resilience, and assert its strategic autonomy. As the international landscape shifts toward a technopolar world order, Türkiye aims to protect its national resilience from cyber threats from state-sponsored and non-state actors. In this context, this article examines Türkiye’s cybersecurity policies. It focuses on its strategic efforts to secure critical infrastructure, strengthen cyber resilience, and navigate the complexities of cyber governance in an evolving geopolitical environment. In addition, the article explores Türkiye’s approach to strengthening its digital sovereignty through national cybersecurity legislation, a Cybersecurity Presidency, the establishment of other key defense agencies, and investments in local technologies. It assesses the resilience of key sectors such as energy, finance, transportation, and defense against cyber threats, and analyses the role of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in mitigating risks. Finally, the article analyses Türkiye’s cybersecurity trajectory against other emerging powers and highlights its evolving role in shaping global cyber governance.

From Adopter to Innovator: Türkiye’s Strategic AI Initiatives for National Security and Inclusive Growth

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:28:00 GMT

In an increasingly technopolar world, artificial intelligence (AI) is pivotal for national competitiveness and security. This article examines how Türkiye, a rising regional power, leverages AI initiatives to bridge the digital divide while ensuring robust economic growth and defense capabilities. Situated within broader debates on digital governance, the study elucidates the interplay between Türkiye’s national policies and global tech competition. Drawing on policy documents and case studies, it traces the nation’s transition from technology adopter to proactive innovator in key sectors like defense, healthcare, and education. The article underscores the importance of inclusive AI that prioritizes human capital, equitable access, and data governance. It also highlights Türkiye’s pursuit of AI-driven defense modernization to establish strategic autonomy against modern threats. This work contends that Türkiye’s AI ambitions must be analyzed within the context of geopolitics, domestic regulation, and AI governance, not just through a technological lens. By offering policy recommendations for fostering cross-sector partnerships and investing in critical infrastructure, the study provides insights into balancing economic development with social equity and national security. Ultimately, this research contributes to the discourse on how emerging technologies reshape power structures, offering a deeper understanding of Türkiye’s evolving role in the digital age.

Dual-Use Technologies in Türkiye’s Defense Sector: Pathways to Agricultural Modernization and Strategic Autonomy

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:34:00 GMT

The recent restructuring of global supply chains, along with growing concerns about food security, has highlighted the potential benefits of applying innovations from the defense industry to agriculture. This article examines how UAVs, sensor networks, and AI systems, initially developed for military use, can be adapted to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in agriculture. Concerning strategic autonomy, the study synthesizes the dynamic framework of Türkiye’s national innovation system with open innovation theory, employing a mixed-methods approach that includes policy document analyses, pilot project evaluations, and quantitative data comparisons of defense spending with agricultural productivity. Key findings reveal that Türkiye benefits from well-coordinated interactions between the state and farmers. Lastly, this study highlights the potential advancements in precision agriculture, cost efficiency, and enhanced technological sovereignty, arguing that innovations derived from military applications can aid in climate change adaptation and reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.

Turkish Space Policy in a Technopolar Paradigm Shift: A Roadmap

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:41:00 GMT

In 2021, Ian Bremmer coined the term technopolarity, signaling a world where big tech companies, especially in the digital realm, were gaining so much power that they were now able to ignore or even challenge nation-states. Some of these companies in the digital realm, such as X or Amazon, also own space companies such as SpaceX or Blue Origin. The space sector has been rapidly expanding with the emergence of a highly ambitious private sector worldwide, and space-based services are becoming essential for carrying on with daily life. Boosted by the power of AI technologies, space activities promise to become more prevalent, more interdependent with other emerging technologies, and thus offer even more services faster than they are today, as well as providing more power to the nation-states that master them. This is surely adding fuel to the fire in debates about technopolarity. Within this framework, this study explores how an emerging spacefaring nation like Türkiye should prepare for a technopolar world where technology companies increasingly challenge or add to the power of nation-states. The author discusses technopolarity as a concept in the making, vis-à-vis the wider understanding of polarity in international relations in general, demonstrates in which ways space activities and discussions on technopolarity are connected and puts Türkiye forward as a case study of an emerging actor in space to suggest a roadmap for a space policy in an increasingly unpredictable global environment.

Technological Extensions of the Offense-Defense Balance: Turkish Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:48:00 GMT

The Eastern Mediterranean is one of the important points in the international arena where maritime competition is deepening. Although strategic approaches are effective in this competition, the level of technological progress is the primary goal of naval forces. In line with this goal, the level of technological progress of the naval forces in the region also affects their strategic assets and gives clues about long-term regional steps. These steps, which also highlight the interaction of technology and geopolitical presence, raise the question of where states stand in ensuring the balance of offense and defense. Ensuring this balance, which is also an indicator of regional peace and stability, is highly related to the technological qualities of the naval forces. This study asks where the Turkish Navy stands in the Eastern Mediterranean by focusing on the offense-defense balance approach. Türkiye, as one of the rising naval powers of the region, takes the link between technology and navy into consideration and considers it as one of the main steps in its long-term geopolitical existence. Focusing on the years 2011-2024, the study addresses the increasing naval activities with an offense-defense balanced approach and discusses the technological extensions of long-term geopolitical presence.

Navigating Global Power Dynamics of AI and the Generative World Order

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:53:00 GMT

The rapid advancement of AI technologies offers transformative opportunities alongside significant risks. AI can enhance global cooperation in areas such as healthcare and climate governance but also poses threats to international security through autonomous weapons, surveillance, and disinformation. This study examines AI’s dual role in shaping a generative world order, analyzing the U.S.-China competition and the EU’s regulatory interventions. Our analysis reveals that AI is not only a technological frontier but also a geopolitical fault line, fostering a world order where normative, economic, and security concerns converge. While the U.S. and China lead AI innovation, their escalating geopolitical tensions and economic rivalry highlight AI’s geopolitical significance. The EU, despite its limited AI industry capacity, shapes global norms through regulatory frameworks. Although Türkiye is not currently a leading actor, it emerges as a potential regional mediator, leveraging its geopolitical positioning and growing AI initiatives. This paper frames AI’s techno-political implications within global order theories, highlighting Türkiye’s soft-balancing approach as a novel case in middle-power diplomacy in the AI era.

Towards Global Digital Governance: Norms, Institutions, and Challenges of Multilateral Cooperation

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:56:00 GMT

This research investigates the possibilities for constructing a holistic, accountable, and effective global digital governance framework amid growing geopolitical competition and regulatory fragmentation. It explores how Joseph Nye’s theory of the regime complex and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) multi-stakeholder initiative can serve as complementary models for advancing digital governance. While both have limitations, the study argues that when revised, they can offer foundations for balancing cooperation and competition in the digital domain. Through qualitative analysis of legal texts, policy reports, and institutional practices, the study assesses the mechanisms shaping digital governance. Findings suggest that a revised regime complex theory can illuminate the multi-actor, multi-level nature of governance and its cooperative potential, and that the IGF, if strategically recalibrated, can effectively guide future institutionalization efforts.

Governing Artificial Intelligence: Comparing AI Regulation among BRICS

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 13:08:00 GMT

The article examines AI regulation in BRICS countries through a typology of AI regulatory governance and a BRICS AI Readiness Index. Based on these analytical tools, the article assesses ethical, economic, governance, and temporal factors that influence the regulatory readiness of the five BRICS. This index mainly draws from a qualitative assessment of national legislation and AI national strategies. Based on this index, the article finds China the most prepared of the BRICS to regulate AI deployment, while Brazil, India, and South Africa show promises but face challenges in developing regulations. Russia appears in the Index as a clear laggard in the adoption of an AI regulatory framework. The article highlights ethical trade-offs, the complex relationship between public trust and regime type, and the relevance of temporal parameters to regulating AI. It calls for tailored policies to strengthen AI governance across BRICS countries.

Techno-Polarization on the East-West Axis in AI-Based Algorithmic Communication

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 13:17:00 GMT

This paper examines algorithmic biases and ideological orientations in AI models through a comparative analysis of Eastern and Western perspectives. At a time when technological advances are reshaping global power dynamics, AI systems are not independent of cultural and political contexts in their design and operation. The ideological tendencies embedded in the outputs of the Western-based ChatGPT and the Eastern-based DeepSeek offer critical insights into the ways algorithms process data within specific frameworks. In this context, the study analyzes how algorithmic bias is not only a technical problem but also reflects global power asymmetries. The research uses qualitative content analysis to examine the responses generated by ChatGPT-4 and DeepSeek-R1. Türkiye’s digital media ecosystem offers a distinctive context for exploring how differing digital governance models and normative frameworks are reflected in media practices. Its geopolitical and technological positioning between East and West enables the observation of how diverse ideological influences shape the digital media landscape. This setting provides valuable insights into the interaction between global digital trends and locally embedded political, cultural, and institutional dynamics.

From Operator’s to AI’s Control: Assessing the Killer Drones Future Role in Warfare

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 13:23:00 GMT

Although the nature of war remains the same, its characteristics have been dynamic throughout history. One of the most significant factors contributing to this dynamism is technology. Every technological advancement introduced to the battlefield has brought and continues to bring striking changes to the conduct of conflicts. In particular, the impact of autonomous weapons and unmanned vehicles has highlighted the need for a more comprehensive reconsideration of warfare. The integration of AI into these systems takes the concept of war to an entirely new dimension. Accordingly, this study will discuss the implications of AI-supported killer drones. Currently these drones are expected to make fewer errors than operator-controlled ones in processes such as target identification, real-time and continuous tracking, high-accuracy neutralization, and evading counterattacks. Consequently, the use of AI-enhanced systems has been analyzed in terms of their pressure on adversaries and the countermeasures they might provoke. The study referenced the concrete example of the Ukraine-Russian war, where killer drones have been deployed, facilitating a more tangible discussion and addressing the potential transformations AI could bring to future warfare.

Reshaping National Security and the Future of Warfare in the Age of Competitive Artificial Intelligence

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:10:00 GMT

National security in the age of competitive AI is evolving into a structure that transcends conventional threat paradigms, encompassing uncertainty, interdependence, and complex multi-actor dynamics. While the integration of AI into military strategy appears inevitable, ignoring its strategic and ethical consequences risks triggering irreversible security crises. One of the most urgent questions in the coming era of international relations, therefore, is how to preserve peace, security, and stability in a world increasingly defined by competitive artificial intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence “Arms Dynamics”: The Case of the U.S. and China Rivalry

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:35:00 GMT

The book argues that artificial intelligence (AI) is not only redefining the balance of power in the international system but also reshaping the very dynamics of global rivalry. Özdemir asserts that hegemonic competition will no longer be limited to political or economic spheres but will extend deeply into the technological realm, with AI at its cor

Deterrence under Uncertainty: Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Warfare

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:42:00 GMT

Once based on the bilateral symmetry of the Cold War, the logic of deterrence now faces layered ambiguity, cognitive manipulation, and pervasive uncertainty as the international system transforms into a multipolar and multi-domain order with overlapping spheres of technological, strategic, and normative contestation. The fundamental tenets of nuclear deterrence are under pressure in accordance with this new reality, in which cyber and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are speeding up, improving the accuracy, and expanding the scope of conflict.

Data Grab: The New Colonialism of Big Tech and How to Fight Back

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:48:00 GMT

The book challenges the dominant mindset that historical colonialism is long gone, instead asserting that today’s data grab is a continuation of the colonial land grab that reorganized the world’s resources centuries ago, exploiting the masses and placing opportunities in the hands of the few. Historical colonialism and data colonialism are two parallel and deeply interconnected phenomena.

Arming the Sultan: German Arms Trade and Personal Diplomacy in the Ottoman Empire before World War I

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 18:03:00 GMT

The book argues that arms trade agreements in the last century of the Ottoman Empire were products of a complex network of influential figures, including Ottoman pashas, German military advisors, and even the Kaiser, who actively lobbied to shape the outcomes of these negotiations. Unlike other foreign powers, the German government actively intervened to promote its armament companies. Ultimately, these efforts achieved their objectives and a monopoly position for German armament corporations in the Ottoman market.

Mapping the Lines in Turkey-U.S. Relations: Making the Vulnerable Partnership

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 18:06:00 GMT

Interestingly, Mapping the Fault Lines in Turkey-U.S. Relations goes beyond its direct focus and resonates with international relations themes at a broader level, particularly within the African context. The emphasis on the power dynamics in the text, characterized by the tensions between foreign actors and regional players, mirrors obstacles encountered by African states navigating post-colonial legacies and contemporary international partnerships