Strategic Regionalism in Turkish Foreign Policy: The Case of the Organization of Turkic States

The erosion of the Western-led international order and the resurgence of great power competition in the last decade have led to a more fragmented international system, rendering regionalcooperation more significant. This study offers an analytical framework by expanding the concept of strategic regionalism to address Türkiye’s growing interest in regional internationalorganizations. Strategic regionalization is defined as a hybrid foreign policy strategy that integrates tools such as economic cooperation and identity proximity with high-politics goals.Accordingly, regional organizations are not merely platforms for economic integration; they also serve as tools to enhance the geopolitical interests of states and broaden the scope of globalactivity. The study employs two complementary methods. By employing a unique dataset covering Türkiye’s interactions with international organizations and the Organization of Turkic Statesas a case study, this study shows that, firstly, Türkiye assumed a facilitating role rather than a hegemonic or supportive leadership role in regional organizations, adopting an approach thatprioritizes sovereign equality and consensus. Secondly, with this hybrid regionalization model, Türkiye is pursuing a policy similar to that of other regional powers and middle powers, while at thesame time producing a novel and ambitious policy in terms of motivations and objectives.