“There are no permanent alliances, only permanent interests.” — Henry John Temple. The top 10 allies of Turkey can also be viewed through this lens. If relations with some countries remain good for a long time, they can be considered allies. Turkey is one of those countries that act as a bridge between continents. In this article, we will go through a journey to explore which countries support Turkey.
Table of Contents
10: Albania
Albania was part of the Ottoman Empire for many years, which led to deep cultural ties between them. Turkey is one of Albania’s largest investors and trading partners.Turkey invests in Albania’s infrastructure, banking industry, telecom sector, and power sector. During Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Albania in 2024, he said that our goal is to increase trade between the two countries to $2 billion.
9: Northern Cyprus
On July 20, 1974, Turkey intervened militarily to prevent a Greek-backed coup, which saved Cyprus from falling under Greek rule. The Turkish support of July 1974 instilled a love of Turkey in the hearts of the people of Northern Cyprus. Only Turkey recognizes Northern Cyprus as a sovereign state. The Deep-rooted historical, Language-related, Tradition-related, religious, and national identity between Turkish Cypriots and Turks naturally creates a strong and positive bond between them.
8: Kyrgyzstan
Turkey was the first nation to recognize Kyrgyzstan as an independent country. The Trade turnover between the two countries reached US$519 million in 2019. The two countries maintain comprehensive relations across all major sectors, including political, economic, defense, and education.
Why is Kyrgyzstan often included in the “top 10 allies of Turkey”?
- Turkish companies make business investments in Kyrgyzstan.
- Both countries also operate academic programs, such as the Kyrgyz-Turkmenistan University (KTMU).
- Both Kyrgyz and Turkic people belong to the Turkic ethnic group.
7: Qatar
Diplomatic relations between the two countries began in 1972. An example of the good relationship between the two is the diplomatic crisis in Qatar in 2017, during which Turkey supported Qatar. Both favored Like-minded political groups in Libya after Muammar Gaddafi. Both countries work closely on military and security matters, and Turkey even has a military base in Qatar for Qatar’s security. According to 2018 data, trade between the two countries was $1.43 billion.
6: South Korea
Turkey sent armed assistance to South Korea during the Korean War. Over 700 Turkish soldiers were killed during this combat, and many were injured. Turkey ranked fourth among the 16 countries that contributed to this conflict. Because of Turkey’s huge contribution to this war, South Korea is considered one of the top 10 allies of Turkey. In 2017, trade between the two countries reached $6.12 billion. Even some statements from South Korean leaders show close relations between the two countries, as President Lee Jae-myung has said that Korea and Türkiye are ‘brotherly nations bound by blood.’
5: Kazakhstan
A trade agreement has recently been signed between Turkey and Kazakhstan. Turkey and Kazakhstan will carry trade up to €13 billion. Around 4,000 Turkish companies are operating in Kazakhstan.
Why is Kazakhstan among the top 10 allies of Turkey?
- Turkey was the first country to officially accept Kazakhstan’s independence.
- In old times, both sides showed mutual interest in addressing common threats such as Russia and the Dzungars.
- Turkey is among Kazakhstan’s top 10 trading partners.
- Both countries share deep cultural and ethnic roots within the Turkic world.
4: Turkmenistan
Both countries share strong cultural ties due to their predominantly Sunni Muslim populations. Both can understand each other’s language, which signals a language connection. In 2009, the trade volume between the two was 1.6 billion USD. Turkish companies have completed over 1400 projects in Turkmenistan worth $50 billion. Turkmenistan has natural gas reserves that Turkey wants to acquire, and a deal is underway between the two countries. They collaborate in International relations, trade, economic affairs , culture, and education.
3: Bosnia and Herzegovina
We can’t forget Bosnia and Herzegovina in the top 10 allies of Turkey list. The Ottoman Empire ruled Bosnia and Herzegovina for more than four centuries, from 1463 to 1878. During this period, various elements of Turkish culture, architecture, and traditions became part of Bosnian society. Turkey had recognized Bosnia as a state even before it formally declared independence. Both can travel to one another’s countries using just their identification cards ( I.D Cards ). During the Bosnian War, Turkey also helped Bosnia. Both countries have had a Free Trade Agreement since 2002 to support each other’s economies.
2: Pakistan
Turkey was among the first nations to recognize Pakistan after its independence. During the early 20th century, Indian Muslims, including those living in present-day Pakistan, organized the Khilafat Movement to assist the Ottoman Caliphate following World War I. This movement sought, which many Muslims regarded as a sign of unity across the Islamic world.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, admired Turkey’s founding leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Both governments aimed to boost bilateral trade from $690 million to over $1 billion by 2010. Both countries back each other at the diplomatic level; for example, Turkey stands by Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, and likewise, Pakistan supports Turkey on the Cyprus issue.
1: Azerbaijan
If we talk about the top 10 allies of Turkey, and Azerbaijan is not included, it would be unfair to the Azerbaijani people. The famous saying about Turkey and Azerbaijan is “One Nation, Two States.” The two countries treat each other like brothers, and former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev famously said, “One Nation, Two States.” Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan’s independence. Azerbaijan values Turkey because of their shared history, traditions, and language, as well as their strong political and security partnership.
During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, Turkey provided significant military assistance to Azerbaijan. Similarly, Azerbaijan supports Turkey on international platforms regarding Northern Cyprus. In 2010, the two countries also signed an agreement stating that if either country were attacked, the other would come to its aid.
Final thoughts
Turkey tries to remain neutral in many conflicts and treats all sides fairly. Turkey tries to develop good geopolitical and economic relations on each continent, especially in the Middle East. Turkey has become one of the important partners for Middle Eastern countries as well as for Europe because of its unique geographical location. The allies of Turkey play a vital role in guiding foreign policy and expanding regional influence, just like Qatar, which hosts one of the Turkish military bases, making it one of the top 10 allies of Turkey. Turkey is becoming an emerging power with interconnected relations with Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Does Turkey support Iran?
Turkey is neither a supporter of Iran nor an enemy, but Turkey sees Iran as a rival. But in the recent Iran-US war, Turkey did not support US-Israel’s attack on Iran and is even supporting the talks between the two countries. Turkey does not want Iran to be too powerful to compete with it, nor too weak to cause instability, so that the Kurds of Iran and the Kurds of Turkey become strong and start a war with Turkey.
Are Turkey and Israel allies?
No, they are not allies. Even Turkey was the first Islamic-majority country to establish diplomatic recognition of Israel. However, both often criticize each other. Turkey consistently speaks out against Israel’s attacks in Gaza or Lebanon. This is often discussed when analyzing the top 10 allies of Turkey.
Does Turkey support Ukraine?
Yes, Turkey has assisted Ukraine with Aid for civilians and defense equipment, such as Bayraktar TB2 Combat drones. Turkey also condemned Russia’s annexation of Crimea. However, Turkey has tried to sustain relations with Russia in order to play a balanced diplomatic position.
Is Turkey supporting Pakistan?
Yes, Turkey continues to assist Pakistan, just as it did during the recent 2025 Indo-Pak conflict. Some media outlets, such as Reuters, reported—based on their sources—that several Turkish cargo aircraft were sent to Pakistan during the tensions. Additionally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed solidarity with Pakistan and opposed the Indian attack.
Are Turkey and Iran allies?
Turkey is neither an ally of Iran nor an enemy. Turkey does not want Iran to become too powerful to become a regional power, nor does it want Iran to obtain nuclear status. It also does not want Iran to become too powerless to become Israel’s next direct regional rival.
Why is Turkey supporting Pakistan?
Because Pakistan has always stood by Turkey on many issues, including the Cyprus matter, as well as historically. Even during his visit to Pakistan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recalled Pakistan’s historical support for Turkey. He said, ‘I thank the Pakistani people for their help in Turkey’s War of Independence.’
