Türkiye’s Relations with the Horn of Africa

Abstract

The study examines Turkey’s foreign policy presence in the Horn of Africa, which has become increasingly active and complex over the past decade and a half, through the theoretical framework of role theory. The research seeks to identify the foreign policy role conceptions that Ankara has developed and enacted in the region, and to analyze how these roles are reflected in practical foreign policy behavior. Methodologically, the analysis is based on a qualitative and quantitative content analysis of speeches delivered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan between 2014 and 2025 that relate to the Horn of Africa. The findings indicate that Turkey does not pursue a single, uniform foreign policy role in the region, but instead applies a differentiated and hierarchical set of roles across countries, reflecting a flexible, role-based middle power strategy in a highly fragmented geopolitical environment.