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Türkiye put its culinary heritage at the center of its public diplomacy message ahead of the July 7-8 NATO summit, as Communications Director Burhanettin Duran told international journalists in Ankara that shared food can help build trust beyond formal diplomatic channels.
Duran hosted members of the international press in the Turkish capital on Sunday as part of a program titled "Türkiye's Gastrodiplomacy Model: The Heritage Table." Gastrodiplomacy refers to the use of national cuisine as a form of cultural diplomacy, helping countries present their identity, hospitality and values to foreign audiences.
"Sometimes, a shared meal on a table can say what pages of documents cannot," Duran said, underlining how food can open up space for deeper understanding between people.
Duran described the Turkish dining table as a cultural space where guests gather without hierarchy, sitting at an equal distance from one another. He linked this egalitarian tradition to the local expression, "the bond of shared bread and salt," which highlights the loyalty and connection forged through sharing a meal.
He also invoked the traditional proverb, "A cup of coffee is remembered for 40 years," to illustrate that Turkish hospitality is a lasting commitment to friendship rather than a fleeting gesture.
Duran characterized Turkish cuisine as one of the nation's "most direct, most sincere, and most enduring expressions of soft power," emphasizing its unique ability to project cultural memory onto the global stage.
Duran noted that Gaziantep, Hatay and Afyonkarahisar are part of the UNESCO's Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy, an initiative that recognizes cities for their cultural and creative strengths.
He also said First Lady Emine Erdogan's leadership had helped raise the global visibility of Turkish food through initiatives such as Turkish Cuisine Week.
According to Duran, Türkiye presents its cuisine together with universal themes such as sustainability, zero waste and the protection of local production, connecting traditional food culture with wider global priorities.
Journalists covering the NATO summit also reflected on Türkiye's hospitality and its diplomatic position.
American journalist Iris Tao said she was impressed by Duran's message that food can bring different cultures together and that sharing a meal can be more powerful than diplomatic documents. Visiting Türkiye for the first time, she described the food as "very tasty."
Camelia Dontu from Romania said Türkiye's hospitality could be inspiring for others. She also linked the NATO summit to regional security concerns, noting that the Russia-Ukraine war is taking place near her country.
Danish journalist Peter Ernstved Rasmussen, who had visited Türkiye before, described Turkish food as "fantastic." He also characterized Türkiye as "the bridge to the east" and said maintaining good relations between East and West remained important. For the summit, he said a key priority was for the United States to confirm its commitment to the alliance.
Daniel Tkiie from Ukraine said the message of sharing bread could help improve relations between societies. Calling himself a fan of Turkish food, he described the event as wonderful and expressed hope for strong unity in support of Kyiv, while noting Türkiye's unique position as a possible mediator between Ukraine and Russia.
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