We are undergoing a historic transformation in which global geopolitical balances are rapidly being reshaped and economic and strategic priorities are intertwined. In this new order, the concepts of trust, competition, sustainability, and economic resilience have become the fundamental pillars that directly determine countries’ positions on the international stage. In this era that goes beyond traditional diplomacy, our defense industry serves not only as a guarantor of our national security but also as one of the most powerful levers of our foreign policy and economic diplomacy. Türkiye’s vision for a domestic defense industry based on high technology, innovation, and value-added production is steadily strengthening our strategic standing in the eyes of our global trade partners. Our country’s rise in this field offers an extremely reliable and sought-after platform for international cooperation, technology sharing, and joint investment opportunities. As the business community, we continue to support these strategic moves with all the tools of business diplomacy, in line with our vision of enhancing the strength of Turkish business in global markets.

Building on this, DEİK we have been operating for 41 years through our 153 Business Councils, spread across the globe, working to increase cross-border investment and trade without using public funds, guided by our motto of “Business Diplomacy.” As the window through which the Turkish private sector engages with the outside world, we continue our work on a voluntary basis alongside our Business Councils, Counterparts, Founding Organizations, Corporate Members, and colleagues.

In this issue of Business Diplomacy, we thoroughly examine key topics such as shifts in global geopolitical balances; the defense industry’s growing role in foreign policy and economic diplomacy; the strategic importance of technology, innovation, and high-value- added production; the contribution of Türkiye’s rise in the defense industry to international cooperation; and the significance of concepts like trust-based competition, sustainability, and economic resilience in this new era. Prepared with contributions from leading experts in their fields, I believe this issue will offer the business community a valuable perspective for understanding the rapidly changing global economy and developing new perspectives for the future.

I would like to thank all our authors and contributors for their efforts in preparing this issue, and I hope you enjoy reading it.