STRATCOM 2026: Strategy at the core of communication

We are living in a time where communication does not simply follow events.

It helps shape them.

At STRATCOM 2026 in Istanbul, this was clear. I had the opportunity to moderate a panel on strategic communication in an age of uncertainty, and one thing stood out:

Strategy is no longer optional. It is essential.

The summit, organised by Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, brought together leadership at the highest level. Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin were all in attendance—showing how important communication has become for diplomacy, governance, and national security.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also sent a video message, highlighting the importance of communication at the highest level.

In his closing remarks, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran emphasised the importance of truth-based communication and described the summit as a platform to address global challenges together. The successful organisation of the summit reflects strong institutional capacity, with Kasim Ileri (Head of Strategic Communication and Crisis Management Department) and his team playing a key role.

On the panel I moderated, alongside Ambassador Akif Cagatay Kilic, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Babacan, Nordin Abdullah, and Dr. Nancy Okail, one idea was clear:

Communication today has real strategic importance.

Information spreads very fast. But trust takes time.

In today’s world—shaped by technology, artificial intelligence, and global tensions—communication is not just about being visible. It is about being clear, consistent, and trustworthy.

STRATCOM 2026 showed that communication is now a priority for governments, states, and non-state actors—handled in a planned, strategic way, not just as a reaction to events.

Because today, communication is not just about being heard.

It is about being understood.

And in an age of uncertainty, that makes all the difference.