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It would be difficult for anyone following Egyptian affairs not to have noticed the Turkish ambassador Salih Mutlu Sen’s residence in Cairo.
By inviting numerous influencers to his residence, Sen has transformed his home in the Egyptian capital into more than just a diplomatic address.
It is now one of Cairo’s most talked-about cultural venues, where diplomacy, creativity, and society intersect.
Earlier in October, Sen invited 30 of the top content creators in Egypt to a special gathering at his residence in Cairo.
Influencers with tens of millions of followers joined the Turkish ambassador for a special evening that highlighted the growing cultural and economic ties between Egypt and Türkiye.
The discussions explored ways to enhance bilateral tourism, boost trade and investment exchanges, and build on the rich cultural diversity shared by both nations.
Participants also emphasized the pivotal role of cultural diplomacy in fostering deeper mutual understanding between the peoples of Egypt and Türkiye.
On Oct. 6, the Turkish ambassador and his wife, Aysen Balcik Sen, held a harp concert, marking 100 years of diplomatic ties between Türkiye and Egypt.
Sen invited prominent actors like Mahmoud Hemida and Jamal Soleiman.
The concert brings together Egyptian harpist Manal Mohie Eldin, renowned Turkish harpist Sirin Pancaroglu, and Turkish music researcher Semih Ozdeniz.
At the Palestine Family Day event in Cairo, held to mark Türkiye’s Year of the Family, the ambassador’s warm exchange with singer Mustafa Amr—captured in photos and video—further strengthened his connection with the Egyptian public.
Seeing the ambassador share photos with beloved Egyptian artists such as Mustafa Amr has brought him closer to the Egyptian public.
Last month, he also welcomed some of the most distinguished figures from Egyptian cinema and television to his residence, including Safia el-Emary, Bushra, and Engy Wegdan.
Today, his residence serves as a vibrant hub for Egyptian influencers, artists, and intellectuals, symbolizing the renewed spirit of cultural dialogue between Türkiye and Egypt.
Sen’s outreach embodies a modern model of public diplomacy—one that values engagement with society over rigid protocol.
By opening his doors to Egypt’s dynamic influencer community, he has successfully extended diplomacy beyond official channels, connecting with a generation that shapes public opinion through digital media rather than traditional statements.
Sen knows the power of cultural storytelling in an era defined by digital voices. By engaging Egypt’s creative class, from filmmakers to content creators.
Sen has transformed cultural diplomacy into a dynamic, accessible, and contemporary practice.
He assumed his post in Cairo at a particularly delicate time, when relations between Egypt and Türkiye were strained.
As Sen himself noted, “Diplomatic relations between the two countries were never completely cut, but only reduced to the level of charge d’affaires,” he told Anadolu Agency (AA).
After a decade-long hiatus, Sen arrived in Cairo to restore full diplomatic representation and help open a new chapter in bilateral ties.
On July 4, 2023, both countries formally announced the restoration of full diplomatic relations and the exchange of ambassadors.
Türkiye appointed Sen as its ambassador to Cairo, a move endorsed by both presidents as a sign of mutual commitment to strengthening cooperation.
Born in Emirdag in 1964, Sen graduated from Ankara University’s Faculty of Political Sciences and obtained a master’s degree from the London School of Economics.
Since joining the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992, he has served in various posts in Kabul, Riyadh, Warsaw, and Jeddah, as well as at Türkiye’s Permanent Missions to the OSCE and the United Nations.
He later represented Türkiye as its Permanent Representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) from 2015 to 2020.
He believes that Türkiye and Egypt share more than a millennium of intertwined history, which will help to build a future based on mutual interests and shared values.
The growing visibility of Sen in Egypt reflects a deliberate and strategic approach to diplomacy.
Today, the Turkish ambassador’s home stands as a unifying space for Egyptian influencers and creatives.
His residence has become a welcoming space for Egyptian influencers and young creatives—a move that many observers describe as an example of public diplomacy, aimed at engaging directly with society rather than limiting ties to official channels.
By opening informal avenues of communication and fostering cultural exchange, Sen has succeeded in reaching segments of Egyptian society that are often beyond the traditional reach of diplomats.
Part of the ambassador’s resonance among Egyptians, particularly youth, stems from their long-standing fascination with Turkish culture—shaped by television dramas and shared Ottoman history.
Despite the political rifts that followed 2011 and the decade-long cooling of ties, that cultural connection endured.
Sen’s personal background also plays a role.
Having spent over a decade in Saudi Arabia, he developed a close familiarity with Arab culture and sensitivities—a factor that helps explain his ease of communication with Egyptians.
His outreach to local influencers—something no other ambassador has done on a comparable scale—has further amplified his image, making “the Turkish ambassador’s house” a symbol of renewed warmth and accessibility in Turkish-Egyptian relations.
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