Hakan Fidan was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in Türkiye’s new cabinet following the second round of presidential elections on May 28, 2023. Born in Hamamönü, Ankara, in 1968, he graduated from the Turkish Military Academy and the Land Forces Language School. While serving in the Turkish Armed Forces, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Politics and Administrative Science from the University of Maryland University College during a NATO mission abroad. He later completed his master’s and doctoral degrees in International Relations at Bilkent University.
After his military service, Fidan pursued an academic career, lecturing in International Relations at Hacettepe University and Bilkent University. He then held key roles in foreign policy and security within the Turkish government, including serving as President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, Deputy Undersecretary for Foreign Policy and Security at the Prime Ministry, Board Member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Special Representative of the Prime Minister. He also served as Deputy Undersecretary and later as Undersecretary/Director of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), a role he held for 13 years until his appointment as Foreign Minister.