Religious Diplomacy, Ecumenical Claims, and the Challenge to T?rkiye's Sovereignty Under the Treaty of Lausanne

A. Murat Tuncer

Abstract: Since 2002, Turkish foreign policy has transformed at the intellectual, geographical, and practical levels, broadening its engagement with regions worldwide. In one of the most significant transformations, religious diplomacy assumed a key role in expanding Ankara's influence across Latin America, Eurasia, and Africa (Ozkan, 2014). Although President Erdo?an appears to adopt an Islamist stance for domestic political gain, due to some complexes and ignorance of history, he exhibits approaches that seem particularly suited to the Christian world. A careful look at Erdo?an's foreign travels is sufficient in this regard. In particular, contradictory decisions such as first imprisoning American Pastor Brunson for espionage and then releasing him on Trump's orders, first imprisoning German journalist Deniz Y?cel for being a terrorist and then releasing him on Merkel's orders, and first opposing Sweden and Finland's entry into NATO and then accepting it due to personal interests, provide insights into this matter. In addition to his domestic political rhetoric against Netanyahu, it is also a profound contradiction that T?rkiye is one of the three countries that do the most serious trade with Israel. In 2006, Benedict XVI visited our country, and Pope Francis visited on November 28-30, 2014. With Leo XIV's recent visit in November 2025, Erdo?an made history as the first leader to host a Pope three times during his reign. Pope Leo performed the Nicaean Rite, which had been barred for 1700 years as a political display of power, and, as if baptizing the ecumenical claims of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Istanbul, he violated the sovereignty of the Republic of Turkey and the Treaty of Lausanne (www.ismetinonu.org.tr/lozan-baris-antlasmasi-tam-metni, www.diad.mfa.gov.tr). This religious diplomacy has been implemented not only by state institutions but also through active contributions from civil society organizations. Today, Turkey's religious diplomacy is much more sophisticated and comprehensive than imagined. Institutions that implement and develop religious diplomacy in Turkey have been reshaping themselves, both structurally and in terms of content (Do?an, 2013). Despite being predominantly Muslim, Turkey strives to maintain a secular nation-state structure that recognizes the right to life and worship of Christians, Jews, and even non-believers. This article examines the political behavior of the Catholic and Orthodox worlds toward T?rkiye's sovereignty.

Keywords: Vatican, Ecumenical, Turkish Sovereignty, Fener Greek Patriarchate, Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate, Treaty of Lausanne, Greater Middle East Project

How to Cite?: A. Murat Tuncer, "Religious Diplomacy, Ecumenical Claims, and the Challenge to T?rkiye's Sovereignty Under the Treaty of Lausanne", Volume 14 Issue 12, December 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1741-1744, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251217134919, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251217134919