Turkey's seek to become a regional power through the use of soft power in African countries: The example of the Horn of Africa

This study aims to evaluate the activities implemented towards the countries of the African continent, especially the wide range of diplomatic services created with Türkiye's foreign policy understanding after 2002. Throughout the scope of the study, it aimed to address the Horn of Africa region of the African continent and the related countries of Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Ethiopia countries on Turkey's increasingly important soft power elements. In terms of Turkey's desire to be a regional power in the region, economic developments, history and cultural values, humanitarian aid activities, military and defense cooperation and mediation activities were formed in terms of economic power as a tool, and soft power-oriented supports shaped by these were tested and evaluated with suggestions in this direction. The study aims to emphasize both the current academic literature and the geopolitical importance of Turkey's political presence in the Horn of Africa and how this presence is organized.