Turkiyes African energy diplomacy Challenges and opportunities

As global dependence on energy resources increases, access to energy and supply security have become some of the fundamental issues in the international system. In this context, states have begun to use energy diplomacy as a foreign policy tool to ensure energy supply security.In Turkish foreign policy, energy diplomacy has become increasingly prominent in the 21st century, not only in its immediate vicinity but also in Asia and Africa. However, compre-hensive, and systematic, document-based analyses of Türkiye's energy diplomacy in Africa remain limited in the literature. This study examines the energy, mining, and hydrocarbon agreements signed between Türkiye and African countries in the 21st century using a qualita-tive analysis method. It reveals how Türkiye's energy diplomacy intertwines with its soft power strategy and evaluates the challenges and opportunities encountered in energy relations in the region. The assessment shows that, on one hand, Türkiye's soft power on the continent makes tangible contributions to energy cooperation, and on the other hand, energy collaborations are supported by elements of soft power, extending beyond mere economic objectives. It was also determined that Türkiye's energy diplomacy in Africa contains various opportunities and challenges. These findings demonstrate that a multidimensional energy diplomacy, integrated with soft power tools, offers an effective solution for overcoming the structural and diplomatic challenges Türkiye faces in Africa's energy sector. If these opportunities are strategically lever-aged, Türkiye could further strengthen its position on the continent.