As her tenure in the Kingdom comes to a close, Turkish Ambassador to Bahrain, Her Excellency Esin Çakıl, reflects on her time on the island, the progress made in various sectors and her hopes for the future. In this wide-ranging interview with Kristian Harrison, she discusses the successful diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Türkiye, the future of bilateral ties and her personal experiences representing her country.
As her tenure in the Kingdom comes to a close, Turkish Ambassador to Bahrain, Her Excellency Esin Çakıl, reflects on her time on the island, the progress made in various sectors and her hopes for the future. In this wide-ranging interview with Kristian Harrison, she discusses the successful diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Türkiye, the future of bilateral ties and her personal experiences representing her country.
Your Excellency, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Could you tell us about your diplomatic career journey so far?
I have been serving as the Turkish Ambassador in Bahrain, where I have always been welcomed with the warmest of feelings, for almost four years. As my tenure in Bahrain comes to an end, I would like to thank Bahrain This Month for its continuous support throughout my time here and for giving me one last opportunity to share my thoughts.
There is a well-known saying that being a diplomat is not just a career path, it is also a lifestyle. You are far from home, but you are stepping into the dynamic and exciting world of international relations and contributing to the shaping of your country’s foreign policy.
I also feel lucky to serve in Senegal, Lebanon, the Netherlands and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Among them, the TRNC has a distinguished place for me since I become a part of the immense efforts given by Türkiye to sisterly TRNC in all fields for their international visibility. During my career, I have accumulated a comprehensive portfolio ranging from Türkiye’s relations with NATO to energy policies and consular affairs.
What is the current state of relations between Bahrain and Türkiye? What are the main areas of cooperation?
Türkiye and Bahrain are two friendly countries bound together by deep-rooted historical, cultural, religious and socio-economic ties. Bilateral relations continue to thrive at an excellent level in all areas. Last year, we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of our diplomatic ties, a milestone that reflects the strength of our political, economic and cultural connections.
Over the past 50 years, our relations have significantly advanced across a wide range of sectors, including political sphere, tourism, trade, investment, healthcare, defence, education, energy and culture.
As one of the most recent developments that demonstrate our strong cooperation, we were proud to reassume the command of multinational counter-piracy task force CTF-151, based in Bahrain, in July.
I believe there is immense potential for cooperation, particularly in areas such as youth affairs, investment and education. The relationship between Türkiye and Bahrain will continue to steadily grow and strengthen.
Are there any large-scale projects or high-level delegations planned for the near future?
The official visit of H.E. Prof. Dr. Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, to Bahrain earlier this year played a significant role in advancing our bilateral relations. There is a close contact between many of our institutions, and I hope that such visits will continue to increase in the coming period.
In the near future, we will focus on the areas of economy, trade and investment. Delegations from the Investment Office of the Presidency of Türkiye and Foreign Economic Relations Board are set to visit Bahrain, where they will meet with representatives from the Kingdom’s public and private sectors in cooperation with the Bahrain Economic Development Board.
Also, the 8th meeting of the Joint Economic Committee between Türkiye and Bahrain, co-chaired by the Minister of Treasury and Finance of Türkiye and Minister of Finance and National Economy of Bahrain, will be held in Türkiye soon.
Turning to projects, over the past 20 years Turkish constructors successfully completed large scale operations in Bahrain. Among these were the extension of the Bahrain International Airport by TAV and the ALBA Line 6 expansion project by GAMA. Furthermore, last year, GETAS assumed the biggest solar panel project in the Kingdom.
Türkiye is one of the main tourist destinations for Bahrainis. What are the most popular places they like to visit?
Türkiye is a rare country where the influences of Asia, Europe and the Middle East are uniquely blended. Whether it’s the stunning beaches of Antalya and Bodrum, boundless valleys and rock carvings of Cappadocia or calming greenery of Bursa and Sapanca, Türkiye boasts a wealth of natural and cultural wonders.
With its historic landmarks, quintessential cuisine, festivals of art, celebration of faith and its famous cats, Istanbul is among the most visited cities by Bahrainis. Trabzon and Rize, located in the Black Sea coast, with their breathtaking mountains, are also among the most popular destinations.
As one of the world’s largest tourism destinations, Türkiye hosted almost 65,000 Bahrainis in 2023. After the visa exemption given to Bahraini citizens, I am sure that Türkiye will continue being the first tourism destination for Bahrainis.
What is the Embassy doing to promote Turkish culture in Bahrain?
I feel fortunate to serve in a country that holds such a deep appreciation for Turkish culture. I am grateful for the sympathy and interest of Bahraini people towards Turkish culture, cuisine, language and even TV series. As the Embassy, we support all initiatives that aim to further raise that awareness.
For instance, for the last three years we have facilitated a youth exchange programme, between Denizli Youth Centre and the Good Word Society of Bahrain. Yunus Emre Cultural Centre has been giving Turkish language courses at the University of Bahrain for seven years. We occasionally meet with participants of the exchange programme and Turkish learners in Bahrain to listen their experiences and thoughts.
We also actively use social media, one the most important dialogue channels of our age, to promote Türkiye’s deep-rooted and vibrant culture.
How many Turkish citizens currently reside in Bahrain, and what sectors are they involved in?
There are around 2,000 Turkish citizens currently residing in Bahrain, and they have become esteemed and integral members of Bahraini society. Turkish expatriates contribute significantly across various sectors, including healthcare, engineering, academia, arts, skilled craftsmanship and business. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Turkish community in Bahrain for representing Türkiye in such a remarkable way.
As Republic Day approaches on October 29, what message would you like to convey to the Turkish community in Bahrain?
First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Turkish community for the unwavering support they have shown to me and my colleagues at the Embassy, and making me proud with their presence and success during my tenure here.
I believe that we might broaden the definition of ‘home’ to encompass not just one’s physical location but also one’s nation of origin and emotional attachment. Therefore, Bahrain is now the second home of the Turkish community, who are only physically distant from Türkiye.
With these feelings, I sincerely congratulate Turkish citizens residing in Bahrain on the 101st anniversary of our Republic. I hope that our citizens will carry the same joy and happiness in their hearts throughout their lives as felt on the first day of the establishment of our great Republic.
