Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran has been appointed as the new Director of Communications for the Republic of Türkiye, according to an official notice published in the Official Gazette early Thursday.

Duran replaces Fahrettin Altun, who had served in the role since July 25, 2018, overseeing government communication strategies and public diplomacy efforts throughout a critical period marked by regional tensions and national reforms.

The appointment marks a significant transition in the country’s communications leadership, bringing in Duran’s extensive academic and political background to the influential post.

Duran holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Relations from Boğaziçi University (1993) and earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Bilkent University in 2001. A well-known academic and policy analyst, he has contributed extensively to Türkiye’s foreign policy discourse through both his scholarly work and public service.

In October 2018, Duran was appointed as a member of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policies Council, further solidifying his role in shaping Türkiye’s international agenda. Most recently, he was named deputy foreign minister in May 2024.

Observers see Duran’s appointment as part of a broader reshuffle aimed at strengthening coordination between Türkiye’s foreign policy apparatus and its strategic communications framework.

The transition is expected to bring a more academically grounded and internationally nuanced approach to Türkiye’s public diplomacy, media relations, and global messaging. (ILKHA)