The Republic of Türkiye as an Emerging Power and Global South Partner: Implications for Peruvian Foreign Policy

Abstract

In a context characterized by the reconfiguration of the international order—marked by acute tensions in various parts of the world and the predominance of the United States in the global arena—Peru may face the need to implement a policy of active neutrality in its foreign policy, one that entails diversifying and strengthening its relations with strategic partners. Within this scenario, the Republic of Türkiye has, over the past two decades, consolidated itself as an emerging regional power whose growing influence is evident not only in the expansion of its military industry, the number of its diplomatic missions, its infrastructure, and its soft power, but also in its role in various processes related to the stabilization of armed conflicts in the Middle East and in regions beyond its immediate geographical sphere.
This article analyzes the evolution of the Turkish foreign policy from the rise of the Justice and Development Party (AKP, by its Turkish acronym) in 2003 to 2024. During this period, the AKP—under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—guided the country’s external affairs, transitioning from a policy oriented toward integration with the European Union to a more assertive and autonomous approach. The study describes the development of Turkish foreign policy in the areas of trade, culture, and cooperation in defense and the education sector, particularly in its engagement with the Global South and, more specifically, with the region of Latin America. Finally, the article examines the opportunities that Türkiye represents for Peru’s foreign policy, considering how other countries in the region have strengthened their bilateral relations with Ankara in recent years.