Türkiye: Afrika İçin İyi Niyetli Altyapı Tedarikçisi

Year 2022, Issue: 7 - Kamu Diplomasisi ve Ülke Markalama Özel Sayısı, 71 - 89, 14.06.2022

Gökhan Tekir

https://doi.org/10.54722/iletisimvediplomasi.1102872

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Afrika, 2003 yılında Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi’nin yönetime gelmesinden sonra Türkiye’nin etkileşimini arttırdığı bölgelerden biridir. Türkiye’nin Afrika politikası siyasal, ekonomik, dini ve kültürel birçok boyutu olmasına karşın, bu çalışma Türkiye’nin Afrika’daki altyapı yatırımlarına yoğunlaşmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye’nin Afrika’daki altyapı yatırımlarına katılımı Başkan Erdoğan’ın Türk dış politikasındaki “Dünya Beş’ten Büyüktür” söylemiyle alakalıdır. Türkiye kıtada materyal kazanımla ilgilenmemekte, Afrika devletlerini güçlendirmekle, günümüzdeki dünya düzenini reform çabalarında ve daha adil bir dünya inşa etmekte mobilize etmeye çabalamaktadır. Türkiye kendisini iyi niyetli bir girişimci olarak markalamaktadır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye’nin Afrika’daki altyapı yatırımlarını ve Afrika’daki projelerdeki Başkan Erdoğan ve diğer yetkililerin birlikte kazanma ve eşit ortaklık vurgularına değinmektedir. Türkiye’nin Afrika’daki ana rakipleri olan Çin ve Fransa’yı da içermektedir. Çin, borç karşılığında altyapılarda hisse alma şeklinde olan borç tuzağı diplomasisini uygularken, Fransa kıtadaki hegemon statüsünü altyapı yatırımları aracılığıyla koruma peşindedir. Türkiye kendisini bu aktörlerden dürüst söylemleri ve sorumlu yatırımları ile farklılaştırmakta, Afrikali nüfus arasındaki imajını yükseltmektedir.

Keywords

Altyapı, Afrika, Türkiye, Erdoğan, İyi Niyet

Supporting Institution

Yok

Project Number

Yok

Thanks

Yok

Türkiye: Infrastructure Provider for Africa with Benevolence

Abstract

Africa emerged as a region to which Türkiye has engaged enthusiastically since 2003 when the Justice and Development Party came to power. Although Türkiye’s policy in Africa has many dimensions such as political, economic, religious, and cultural, this study focuses on its infrastructure investments. This paper argues that Türkiye’s commitment in infrastructure development in Africa is related with the President Erdoğan’s grand narrative of “The World is Bigger than Five” in Turkish foreign policy. Türkiye is not interested in material gains in the continent but it seeks to elevate and mobilize the African states in its endeavors to reform the current world order and to build a fairer world. Türkiye brands itself as a benevolent enterprising actor in Africa. This study deals with Turkish infrastructure practices and the President Erdoğan and other officials’ emphases on mutual gain and equal partnership in the projects in Africa. It also includes the infrastructure activities of Türkiye’s main competitors on the continent, China and France. While China engages in debt-trap diplomacy characterized by gaining stakes in shares of the infrastructures in exchange of writing off debts, France seeks to maintain its hegemonic status on the continent through infrastructure investments. Türkiye differs itself from these actors with its sincere statements and responsible investments on the continent, raising its image among the African population.

Keywords

Infrastructure, Africa, Türkiye, Erdoğan, Benevolence

Project Number

Yok

References

• Abi-Habib, M. (2018). How China Got Sri Lanka to Cough Up a Port. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/world/asia/china-sri-lanka-port.html
• Açıkalın, Ş. N. (2021). Türk-Alman İlişkilerinde Lider Diplomasisi. Nobel Yayınevi.
• Adeshokan, O. (2021). China’s Investment Drive and Africa’s Disjointed Infrastructure. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2021/12/chinas-investment-drive-and-africas-disjointed-infrastructure/#:~:text=The BRI had an initial,%242 trillion operating in Africa.
• AFD. (2022). AFD and Africa: Supporting the Transitions Throughout the Continent. (https://www.afd.fr/en/page-region-pays/africa
• Afreximbank. (2019). Afreximbank President Meets Turk Eximbank CEO. https://www.afreximbank.com/afreximbank-president-meets-turk-eximbank-ceo/
• Al Jazeera. (2016). Erdoğan: Türkiye’nin Afrika’da sömürgeci geçmişi olmadı. http://www.aljazeera.com.tr/haber/erdogan-turkiyenin-afrikada-somurgeci-gecmisi-olmadi
• Berneunion. (2021). Türk Eximbank’s Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.berneunion.org/Articles/Details/582/Turk-Eximbanks-Experience-in-Sub-Saharan-Africa
• Calabrese, L., & Tang, X. (2020). Africa’s economic transformation: the role of Chinese investment. The DFID-ESRC Growth Research Programme (DEGRP).
• Çavuşoğlu, M. (2018, May 25). Turkey and Africa are building a solid partnership. Daily Sabah. https://www.dailysabah.com/op-ed/2018/05/25/turkey-and-africa-are-building-a-solid-partnership
• Chellaney, B. (2017). China’s debt-trap diplomacy. Aspi Strategist. https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-debt-trap-diplomacy/
• Daban, C. (2021). 21. Yüzyılda Türkiye’nin Afrika Ülkeleri ile Siyasi ve Diplomatic İlişkileri. ASBİ Abant Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 21(3), 925–944.
• Dahir, A. (2021). The Turkey-Africa Bromance: Key Drivers, Agency, and Prospects. Insight Turkey, 23(4), 27–38.
• Daily Sabah. (2020).Türk Eximbank, major African development bank ink funding cooperation deal. https://www.dailysabah.com/business/economy/turk-eximbank-major-african-development-bank-ink-funding-cooperation-dea
• DEİK. (2021). Erdoğan: “Türk Firmalarının Afrika Genelinde Üstlendiği Projelerin Toplam Değeri Yaklaşık 70 Milyar Dolara Ulaştı.” https://www.deik.org.tr/basin-aciklamalari-erdogan-turk-firmalarinin-afrika-genelinde-ustlendigi-projelerin-toplam-degeri-yaklasik-70-milyar-dolara-ulasti
• Duran, B. (2022). Erdoğan’ın yoğun Afrika mesaisi. Sabah. https://www.sabah.com.tr/yazarlar/duran/2022/02/22/erdoganin-yogun-afrika-mesaisi
• Durmaz, M. (2021). As Erdogan set for another tour, Turkey deepens ties with Africa. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/16/as-erdogan-set-for-another-tour-turkey-deepens-ties-with-africa
• DW. (2021). Turkey seeks to strengthen Africa relations with “benevolence.” https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-seeks-to-strengthen-africa-relations-with-benevolence/a-56452857
• Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Ghana. (2006). Chinese Government Issues African Policy Paper. https://www.mfa.gov.cn/ce/cegh//eng/xwdt/t231007.htm
• Erdoğan, R. T. (2017). The Vision of New Turkey “The World Is Bigger Than Five.” Department of Corporate Communications.
• Erdoğan, R. T. (2021). Daha Adil Bir Dünya Mümkün Birleşmiş Milletler İçin Bir Reform Önerisi. Türkuvaz Kitap.
• Fabricus, P. (2021). Making Turkey Great Again. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/making-turkey-great-again
• Habiyeremye, A., & Oğuzlu, T. (2014). Engagement with Africa: Making Sense of Turkey’s Approach in the Context of Growing East-West Rivalry. Uluslararası İlişkiler, 11(41), 65–85.
• Irish, J. (2019). Macron woos East Africa but French companies struggle to make inroads. Al Jazeera. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-africa-analysis-idUSKCN1QZ1TA
• Istanbul Africa Trade Company. (2021). 2021 Construction Sector in Africa. https://www.istanbulafrica.com/construction-sector-in-africa/
• Jensen, C. B., & Morita, A. (2017). Introduction: Infrastructures as Ontological Experiments. Ethnos, 82(4), 615–626.
• Karagül, S., & Arslan, İ. (2013). Türkiye’nin Afrika Açılım Politikası: Tarihsel Arka Plan, Stratejik Ortaklık ve Geleceği. Uluslararası Hukuk ve Politika, 9(35), 21–55.
• Kato, R. L. (2021). What will it take to fill Africa’s growing infrastructure deficit? Africanews. https://www.africanews.com/2021/10/05/what-will-it-take-to-fill-africa-s-growing-infrastructure-deficit/#:~:text=The African Development Bank estimates,around %24100 billion a year.
• Kayalar, S. (2021). The Pioneer of Cooperation for Sustainable Development in Africa: TİKA. TİKA. https://www.tika.gov.tr/en/news/the_pioneer_of_cooperation_for_sustainable_development_in_africa_tika-67113
• Kazancı, H. (2018). Turkey, South Africa to boost trade ties: Erdogan. Anadolu Ajansı. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/turkey-south-africa-to-boost-trade-ties-erdogan/1216093
• Kenyon, P. (2018). Turkey Is Quietly Building Its Presence In Africa. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/03/08/590934127/turkey-is-quietly-building-its-presence-in-africa?t=1646906596353
• Larkin, B. (2013). The Politics and Poetics of Infrastructure. The Annual Review of Anthropology, 42, 327–343.
• Logistics Update. (2017). Tanzania requests for loan to Turkish Eximbank to fund new SGR. Africa. https://www.logupdateafrica.com/tanzania-requests-for-loan-to-turkish-eximbank-to-fund-new-sgr
• Mallet, V., Munshi, N., & Pilling, D. (2020). Why Macron’s attempt to reset French ties to Africa has hit trouble. The Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/cea9cdd9-c500-41bc-a2ae-2e4c01eaf2e8
• Marbot, O., & Toulemonde, M. (2021). In Africa, France’s image takes a hit, but Turkey, Qatar and the UAE’s are on the up. The Africa Report. https://www.theafricareport.com/73566/in-africa-frances-image-takes-a-hit-but-turkey-qatar-and-the-uaes-are-on-the-up/
• Monteine, C. (2019). Macron’s Africa visit reveals determination to weaken China’s grip on the continent. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/16/macrons-africa-visit-reveals-determination-to-weaken-chinas-grip-on-the-continent.html
• Noort, C. van. (2021). Infrastructure Communication in International Relations. Routledge.
• Noort, C. van. (2022). China’s Communication of the Belt and Road Initiative Silk Road and Infrastructure Narratives. Routledge.
• Özbil, Ö. F. (2021). Türkiye’nin Uganda Büyükelçisi Kerem Alp: Afrika’da büyükelçi olmak hayata yeniden başlamak gibi. Independent Turkçe. https://www.indyturk.com/node/446836/türki̇yeden-sesler/türkiyenin-uganda-büyükelçisi-kerem-alp-afrikada-büyükelçi-olmak
• Pollet, M. (2022). Macron hosts European and African leaders in preparation of Sahel redeployment. Euractiv. https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/macron-hosts-european-and-african-leaders-in-preparation-of-sahel-redeployment/
• Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2008). Framework of Cooperation adopted on 19 August 2008 at the Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit in İstanbul. http://afrika.mfa.gov.tr/framework-of-cooperation-adopted-on-19-august-2008-at-the-turkey-africa-cooperation-summit-in-istanbul.en.mfa
• Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2021). Turkey-Africa Relations. https://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkey-africa-relations.en.mfa
• Reuters. (2021). Zambia foreign minister says discussed debt with Chinese counterpart. https://www.reuters.com/article/zambia-economy-idUSL8N2S167Z
• Sauvage, G. (2021). France shifts policy on aid to Africa to counter rising Chinese influence. France 24. https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210306-france-shifts-policy-on-aid-to-africa-to-counter-rising-chinese-influence
• Shepard, W. (2019). What China Is Really Up To In Africa. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2019/10/03/what-china-is-really-up-to-in-africa/?sh=2fdc4da25930
• Tanchum, M. (2021). Turkey’s Maghreb–West Africa Economic Architecture: Challenges and Opportunities for the European Union. The Centre for Applied Turkey Studies (CATS).
• Tavsan, S. (2021). Turkey’s scramble for Africa is reinforced by soft power. Asia Nikkei.
• The Committee on Foreign Affairs. (2018). China in Africa: New Colonialism? Washington: D.C.
• The EastAfrican. (2021). China loan binge starts to bite; the US, EU hope to gain from fallout. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/china-loan-binge-bite-the-us-eu-hope-to-gain-from-fallout-3632760
• TİKA. (2022). TİKA Supports the Health Infrastructure of Senegal. https://www.tika.gov.tr/en/news/tika_supports_the_health_infrastructure_of_senegal-68363
• Tosun, M., & Beyaz, Z. F. (2022). Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan: Afrika ülkeleri ile ilişkilerimizi kardeşlik ve dayanışma temelinde geliştirmeye devam edeceğiz. Anadolu Ajansı. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/politika/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-afrika-ulkeleri-ile-iliskilerimizi-kardeslik-ve-dayanisma-temelinde-gelistirmeye-devam-edecegiz/2508026
• Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Cumhurbaşkanlığı İletişim Başkanlığı. (2021). Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, “Türkiye ile Afrika’yı her alanda yakınlaştırmaya devam ediyoruz.” https://www.iletisim.gov.tr/turkce/Haberler/detay/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-turkiye-ile-afrikayi-her-alanda-yakinlastirmaya-devam-ediyoruz
• WION. (2021). China’s debt trap strategy: Uganda set to lose its only international airport to Beijing. https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-debt-trap-strategy-uganda-set-to-lose-its-only-international-airport-to-beijing-432465
• Yeni Şafak. (2021). Erdoğan’dan sömürge düzenine tepki: Korktukça zulüm Afrika’yı sarar. https://www.yenisafak.com/gundem/erdogandan-somurge-duzenine-tepki-korktukca-zulum-afrikayi-sarar-3707598