site.btaStratcom Summit Opens in Istanbul with Focus on Global Disorder and Disinformation

The Stratcom Summit 26 opened on Friday in Istanbul in the presence of politicians, diplomats, experts and media representatives from around 40 countries and a number of international organizations. Bulgaria was represented at the two-day forum by the caretaker Ministers of Foreign Affairs Nadezhda Neynski and Culture Nayden Todorov, who are included in Saturday's program.

At the opening of the forum, Prof. Burhanettin Duran, Head of the Communications Directorate of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkiye said that the main topic this year is "Disruption of the International System: Crises, Narratives and the Search for Order,". According to him, the forum will discuss both the technical aspects of strategic communication, as well as the multilateral crises in the international system and the narratives that deepen these crises.

"We call on the international community and all stakeholders to stand up for the truth and take a more sustained and conscious stance against disinformation," he said.

At the same time, Duran stressed that "destabilization on a regional level deepens existing instability, makes uncertainty about the future permanent," citing as an example the conflict in Gaza, about which, in his words, "international law is silent, conceals the truth, masks aggression and creates one-sided narratives."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a video address to participants that the international system is experiencing a serious crisis of legitimacy in almost every area. "The institutions, rules and values ​​that form the basis of the system are losing their function day by day. We are living through a difficult period in which the competition for power has spread to areas as diverse as energy, technology and trade, in which problems are being tried to be solved with weapons instead of dialogue, and in which genocides, wars and crises are escalating. Ending the tragedies that break our hearts, such as the one in Gaza, and restoring peace, tranquility and stability in our region and throughout the world is more important than ever," the head of state said.

Erdogan stressed that Turkiye will continue its principled, unwavering and peace-oriented stance focused on humanitarian values ​​and justice, and will mobilize all our resources to restore peace and security not only in our region but also in the entire world.

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, in his opening speech, pointed out that "the main axis of both Turkiye's foreign policy and strategic communication is to recognize the limitations of the current international system and to make the pursuit of a more just and inclusive order a permanent element of the global agenda."

During the break after the opening, the Turkish Vice President answered a question from the BTA correspondent about how he assesses the fact that there is also a Bulgarian presence at the forum.

"For us, Bulgaria is a friendly, neighbouring and allied country and its representatives are always welcome here," said Yilmaz.

Friday's six panels included representatives of the Turkish government, the President of the Defense Industry Agency Haluk Gorgun, the Secretary General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture, Sultan Raev, Baroness Fiona Hodgson from the House of Lords, Great Britain, Ismet Fatih Cancar, Advisor to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and many others.

Participants discussed a wide range of issues – from strategic communication to the future of diplomacy, from artificial intelligence to the transformation of global public opinion, and from soft power to crisis management.

Ministers Nadezhda Neynski and Nayden Todorov will join the forum on Saturday, whose discussions will be opened by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The head of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization Prof. Ibrahim Kalin, will also participate on the second day of the forum.

Minister Neynski will meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, as well as with Prof. Burhanettin Duran. Minister Todorov will participate as a lecturer on the second day of the forum in the panel "Rethinking Soft Power: Influence and Limits in the Face of Global Disruption". 

The discussion will explore the relationship between culture, influence, public visibility, and strategic communications in the context of global transformations.

The international communications platform "Stratcom" is focused on using communication processes, messages and actions to achieve specific long-term goals, most often in the fields of state policy, defense and international relations. It aims to build public trust, counter disinformation and manage crises. The platform has been implemented by the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkiye since 2021 and brings together politicians, academics, media specialists and communications experts.

The forums have so far attracted thousands of participants and speakers from over 50 countries on various topics: crisis communication, combating disinformation, public diplomacy, new technologies, media planning and new media skills. The forums have become a stable form of meetings for international dialogue and sharing of experience.