“Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons“
When we look at the main trends in the world, global competition in the age of new economy based on "information and knowledge-based products" following "soil and machinery" is developing through "micro-nationalism", "integration" and "unpredictability’’. Challenges that determine the new nature of life and state; such as " crisis in resource and sharing ", unsustainability of production-consumption-growth formula, purge of the middle class with Chinese leverage, energy, water, and food insecurity, transition to the 4th dimension, liquidation of human resources in the workforce, transition from hard power to soft and smart power on the basis of the very changing state nature and anticipation management, can be formed as the basic references.
Within all these fundamental parameters, the transformations in technology are prone to change the whole human life and nature by developing with artificial intelligence, virtual/enhanced reality and mobility centered. It is obvious that the concepts of "Industry 4.0" and "Society 5.0" are important topics for managing the transformation of the world within the dimensions of industry and society. Another contributive factor is the turbulence that China creates as it begins to become intensively dominant on the world stage day to day. The New Silk Road project, "One Belt and One Road Initiative"; is shaped as a global integration project involving more than hundred countries, both on land and at sea, permanently changing the distribution of economic shares. In countries with no middle class, authoritarian regimes or chaos stands as two options in the fore-seeable future. How to make the division of labor in terms of regional and global security and how to share the costs is also a point of discussion in the coming period.
The development of new alliances on security can be read from the risks and the initiatives undertaken by dominant countries. The quality of the concepts of property and power, and the business model change historically. The future of the EU with the "Failure in Success" syndrome will be determined by the results of the polarization which revived in the West after the Brexit. Along with all these developments, "Ecosystem of safety" changes with the law. The "Security - Democracy" dilemma will be experienced much more after that. Because, for the democracy, it is difficult to survive in countries where the middle class is melting and security leans to a sophisticated ground. The question "Will security bring us authoritarian regimes" needs to be discussed further.
Turkey distinguishes itself with an 84-million inhabitants, growing economy and geo-strategic status in the center of Afro-Eurasia. Turkey's historical, political and cultural ties between Europe, Black Sea, Caucasus, Asia, Middle East and African countries, rising activity in the international arena, especially in the United Nations, being an important member of organizations such as NATO, OSCE and CICA and with active foreign policy, it has become an increasingly important actor on the global platform.
As a member of EU, Netherlands with its population of 17,4 million and GDP of near 1 trillion dollars (2019); is one of the Benelux countries along with Belgium and Luxemburg. The city of Rotterdam in Netherlands is one of the largest ports in Europe. Netherlands has been a constitutional monarchy since 1815 and a parliamentary democracy since 1848. Besides being a member of EU, it is also member to NATO and OECD and has signed Kyoto Protocol. It is the host country for International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court and Europol. It is a prominent country with regards to human rights and justice. Its economy is the 17th largest in the world (2019).
The roots of Turkey-Netherlands relations date back to 17th century. The first Ambassador of Netherlands to Ottoman State had come to Istanbul in 1612 with the invitation of the Sultan. The first Turkish Embassy had been opened and the first Turkish Ambassador to Netherlands had been appointed between 1855 and 1859. During that time; the nature of the relations were mostly commercial, while Dutch merchants had been buying silk and spices from Ottoman Bazaars; Ottoman Empire had exported wool, cotton and tobacco to Netherlands and had imported cotton and woolen clothing. After the establishment of Republic of Turkey; the economic and trade relations between two countries have grown. Dutch Company “Philips“ has begun to operate in Turkey in 1930. Besides; TurkishDutch Association was established in 1934.
The substantial presence of a large Turkish Community in Netherlands has accelerated trade relations between two countries. The bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Netherlands stood at nearly 36 billion dollars in 2019 and trade gap weigh against Turkey was approximately 2.7 billion dollars. The main products exported by Turkey to Netherlands are motor vehicles for the transport of goods, automobiles, station wagons, racing cars, textiles. The main products exported by Netherlands to Turkey are Iron and steel, wastes and scraps, polyacetals, other polymers, epoxide - alkyd resins, petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, and tractors. Despite the negative political developments between the two countries in 2017, commercial and economic relations continued to develop. The Netherlands is Turkey's seventh largest trading partner in terms of bilateral trade volume. Netherlands gives great importance to Turkey due to its geostrategic location, growing importance in transfer of energy reserves, developing economy and huge number of Dutch citizens of Turkish descent.
The population of immigrants of Turkish origin in the Netherlands, where approximately 4 million immigrants live, is around 500,000 which makes them the largest ethnic group in Netherlands after Dutch, and this constitutes one of the most important aspects of our relations with this country. As the most enterprising community; Turks have invested in Netherlands worth more than 6 billion Euros. The number of Turkish-owned businesses is more than 28, 000 and these businesses employ more than 80, 000 people. Besides, as of 2021 it is the 64th anniversary of arrival of first Turkish immigrants to Netherlands and it seems that Turks are permanent residents of Netherlands. During the period 2002-2019, Netherlands has made direct investments of 25 billion 402 million dollars to Turkey, and maintained its title as the country that made the most investments in 2019 as well. During the same period, in the Netherlands foreign direct investments made by Turkey is 13 billion 763 million dollars, and in terms of foreign direct investments from Turkey to abroad, Netherlands was in the 1st place in 2019.
Turkey-Netherlands relations have been carried out well with regards to trade. Also both countries have taken steps in order to strengthen political relations among themselves. In this regard; “The Memorandum of Understanding on the Intensification of Relations between Turkey and Netherlands and The Establishment of Turkish-Dutch Conference“ which was signed in 2008 is an example of this. Turkey - Netherlands (Wittenburg) Conferences established in this framework are held alternately in the two countries.. After the 2017 crisis, it was agreed in 2018 to normalize relations with the Netherlands, and as a result, ambassadors were mutually appointed, and Dutch Foreign Minister visited Turkey in the same year. And in 2019, the 7th Turkey - Netherlands (Wittenburg) Conference was held in the Netherlands with the paticipation of Turkish Foreign Minister.
The basis tendency coming with globalization and multidimensionality which gained momentum after the end of the Cold War, aims to strengthen the countries not by themselves but through certain regional cooperation and trans-regional partnerships. Countries are now moving towards an open structure based on dialogue and cooperation in economic, political and cultural terms, while those who cannot adapt are experiencing serious instability.
Now it is required that the two countries head towards a future structure, in order to uplift the Turkey - Netherlands relations an ideal point within a world power schema which takes its form in a multi-dimensional way, by creating more mutual deepening not only in political and strategic basis but also in its each parameters. In this regard, the Turkey - Netherlands Strategic Dialogue, which will bring together the representatives of the related sectors in a comprehensive way that includes the strategic dimension of the relations, will play a significant role.
Main Theme
Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons
Sub Themes
New Balances New Economy
Turkey-Netherlands Economic Relations: Opportunities and Obstacles
Energy Policies: Geopolitics and Security Cooperation
Technological, Academic and Cultural Cooperation
Social, Economic and Political Development and Migration
Accession of Turkey to the European Union and Turkey-Netherlands Relations
USA, China and Relations with New Partners: Regional Strategies
Primary Sectors
Public Diplomacy, Education and Language
Culture and Tourism
Construction, Construction Business and Infrastructure
Health and Health Tourism
Energy, Petro-chemistry and Investments
Logistics, Transportation and Communication
Banking and Finance (Strategic Investment Fund)
Economy and Trade
Media and Communication
Science and Technology
Brand Cities and Environment
Defence and Space Industry
STUDIES AND ACTIVITIES (DRAFT)
Method
Inductive Reasoning, Participation and Economic Deepening
Turkey - Netherland Committee of Wise Persons Meetings Workshop
Building Capacity and Ecosystem Inventory
Preparation of Research Projects and their Reports
Development of Pro-active Policy Recommendations
Round-Table Meetings/Workshops
Multilateral Workshops/Studies
Sector Workshops/Activities
Applied Interactive Modelings
Strategic Reports
Publication of sector studies as strategic reports for decision makers, private sector, media and public opinion of the two countries. Providing literature and memory support.
Media Conferences
Other Academic Studies
Strategic Reports, Books, Articles, Thesis and so on Academic Studies
Event Page
https://tasam.org/en/Etkinlik/16273/turkey_-_souh_asia_strategic_dialogue
