Türkiye as a Strategic Partner in Africa

By Dr. Halim Gençoğlu

In recent years, Türkiye has significantly expanded its diplomatic, economic, and military footprint in Africa. In this paper, I examine Türkiye’s role as a dynamic actor capable of balancing Chinese and Russian influence on the continent, while providing potential avenues for U.S. and European engagement. Drawing on recent reports, including the Atlantic Council (2025), the study highlights Türkiye’s use of soft power, infrastructure investments, and defense partnerships to establish itself as a reliable and strategic partner for African nations.

Indeed, as a continent, Africa has increasingly become a contest space for global powers seeking strategic influence. While China and Russia have made significant inroads through infrastructure investments, natural resource extraction, and military partnerships, Türkiye has emerged as a dynamic alternative actor combining soft power with pragmatic defense cooperation. However, another point of critique is the absence of discussion on how Türkiye’s initiatives are perceived within Africa itself. For instance, Turkish Airlines’ expansive flight network, TİKA’s development projects, and the opening of over forty embassies across Africa have significantly reshaped people-to-people and state-to-state connections. These achievements are not merely extensions of Western strategy but evidence of Türkiye’s independent and long-term engagement.

Türkiye’s Expanding Role in Africa

Türkiye has dramatically increased its diplomatic presence across Africa. Since the early 2000s, Ankara has opened numerous embassies and consulates, facilitating bilateral dialogue and regional integration. This diplomatic expansion allows Türkiye to play a mediating role in regional disputes and promote political stability.

Trade and investment constitute key pillars of Türkiye’s African strategy. Turkish construction companies have been active in infrastructure projects, including roads, ports, and energy facilities. Additionally, Türkiye has invested in local healthcare systems and education initiatives, combining development assistance with long-term economic integration (Atlantic Council, 2025). Türkiye’s defense collaboration ranges from military training to arms sales and joint exercises. By providing security assistance without the historical colonial baggage of some Western powers, Türkiye positions itself as a credible partner in African security matters. This cooperation also offers the U.S. and European allies alternative frameworks to address regional threats.

Through cultural diplomacy, scholarships, and humanitarian aid, Türkiye leverages soft power to deepen its influence. Educational programs, health initiatives, and cultural exchanges build goodwill while fostering a positive perception of Türkiye as a constructive partner.

Strategic Implications for the West

Türkiye’s engagement presents both opportunities and challenges for the U.S. and Europe. While France and other European powers face difficulties in some African regions due to colonial legacies or local resistance, Türkiye can offer complementary engagement strategies. Its ability to combine soft power with pragmatic defense collaboration creates a model for sustainable and equitable development partnerships. Any thorough evaluation of Türkiye’s role must account for the historical contrast between Türkiye and European colonial powers, as well as the autonomous nature of Türkiye’s Africa policy. A nuanced perspective would acknowledge that Ankara’s credibility on the continent is partly rooted in the absence of colonial baggage—something that cannot be said for most of Europe’s major actors.

Counterbalancing Chinese and Russian Influence

China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Russia’s military assistance programs have reshaped the African geopolitical landscape. Türkiye provides a middle path, offering infrastructure development, technical assistance, and security cooperation in a framework perceived as less extractive and more transparent. Trilateral cooperation involving the U.S., Europe, and Türkiye could enhance stability, economic growth, and democratic governance in Africa. By coordinating aid, trade, and security programs, Western powers could leverage Türkiye’s regional credibility to create mutually beneficial outcomes, including stronger governance, human capital development, and counterterrorism efforts.

Despite its growing influence, Türkiye faces challenges, including competition with established powers, domestic political fluctuations, and regional conflicts. Furthermore, aligning strategic priorities with Western allies may require careful negotiation to reconcile divergent interests, particularly in security and economic spheres.

Conclusion

Türkiye has emerged as a dynamic and multifaceted actor in Africa, combining soft power, economic engagement, and defense cooperation. Its presence offers new opportunities for U.S. and European powers seeking to counterbalance Chinese and Russian influence. Strategic trilateral collaboration could strengthen sustainable development, enhance regional security, and promote equitable partnerships. As Africa’s geopolitical landscape evolves, Türkiye’s role is likely to remain a critical factor in shaping regional outcomes.

The Atlantic Council’s article (2025) frames Türkiye primarily as a strategic partner for the United States and Europe in counterbalancing Chinese and Russian influence in Africa. While the analysis acknowledges Türkiye’s growing diplomatic and economic engagements across the continent, it tends to present this involvement through the lens of great-power competition rather than from the perspective of African agency or Türkiye’s distinct historical trajectory.

One key limitation of the piece is its failure to recognize that Türkiye’s presence in Africa fundamentally differs from that of traditional European actors. Unlike Britain, France, Portugal, or Belgium, Türkiye does not have a colonial background in Africa. This absence of a colonial legacy has given Ankara a degree of credibility among African governments and societies, allowing it to position itself as a partner rather than a former oppressor. Turks are the only nation that sent scholars to Africa to educate the local Muslims and did not discriminate between black and white people. Many African leaders have underscored this point, suggesting that Türkiye’s engagement feels less exploitative and more grounded in mutual respect, particularly in development aid, trade, and educational exchange.

References

Atlantic Council. (2025, September 10). Türkiye could be a key U.S. and European partner in countering China and Russia in Africa. Atlantic Council.

Kirişci, K. (2020). Türkiye’s Emerging Africa Policy: Beyond Trade and Diplomacy. Journal of African Studies, 45(3), 215–237.

Oğuz, S. (2022). Soft Power in Africa: Türkiye’s Cultural Diplomacy and Educational Outreach. International Journal of Diplomacy, 14(1), 33–52.

Zürcher, E. J. (2017). Türkiye: A Modern History. London: I.B. Tauris.

Gençoğlu, H. (2019). Güney Afrika’da Irkçılığın Tarihsel Kökenleri. Siyasal Bilgiler Fakültesi Dergisi, 2(2), 79-120.

Gençoğlu, H. (2024). African historiography: Reflections on rewriting the continent’s past. ResearchGate.