A photo of the US ambassador to Türkiye raises a protocol controversy

A picture of Tom Barrack sitting in the office of the Turkish Defense Minister with others sparked controversy in Turkey, as critics accused the American envoy of appearing like a “colonial ruler,” wondering about the reasons for arranging the seating places in a way that suggests he is presiding over the meeting.

Barak, who is also President Donald Trump’s special US envoy to Syria, met with Defense Minister Yasar Guler in Ankara on Friday.

The photo published by the Ministry of Defense showed Barak sitting alone on the central seat, while Guler and senior military leaders, including the Chief of Staff, sat on either side of him.

There was widespread controversy on social media, as critics saw that the photo suggested that the ambassador was dominating the scene, and that Turkish officials appeared in a more subordinate position.

The representative of the right-wing “I” party, Lutfi Turkkan, wrote on the X platform: “Is this man an ambassador or a colonial ruler?” adding, “No one has the right to portray Turkey in such a state of helplessness.”

Turkish media quoted Defense Ministry officials as saying that the seating protocol is not specific to Barak, and that the same arrangement is adopted with all visiting officials.

However, veteran diplomatic correspondents said that this arrangement is very unusual according to international standards, noting that the usual protocol does not usually place the head of the visiting delegation in the main seat while the host official sits to the side.

Journalist Bargin Janach told Agence France-Presse, “During nearly 35 years of journalistic work, including 25 years covering diplomacy, I have not seen a similar protocol anywhere in the world.”

She added that this arrangement is not consistent with established diplomatic norms, noting that departures from accepted protocols have become more frequent in recent years in Türkiye.

She continued, “What makes it even more surprising is that it happened in the Ministry of Defense, an institution known for its strict adherence to hierarchy and formal rules.”

Critics also said that the state’s official protocol was uniform, and that reception practices were subject to established national traditions.

Vice Chairman of the main opposition Republican People’s Party and former ambassador to Washington, Namik Tan, said, “Unless those in charge of the protocol are individuals who lack professional experience, they are supposed to be familiar with the country’s established traditions.”

The seating arrangement also sparked criticism within government ranks.
“The situation today is another protocol lapse that is difficult to justify,” Bulent Arinc, former parliament speaker and one of the founders of the ruling Justice and Development Party, wrote on the XN platform.

He added, “Even if Barack has been assigned special duties by President Trump, he is still the American ambassador in Ankara, and has the same status as any foreign envoy.”

He continued, “The appearance of an ambassador leading a meeting with the Minister of Defense and military chiefs does not comply with state protocol. If this practice has become a norm, it must be reviewed immediately.”

Türkiye has previously witnessed a similar controversy regarding diplomatic protocol.

In 2021, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was left without a seat during a meeting with President Erdogan in Ankara.

This sparked criticism after then-European Council President Charles Michel sat in the only seat next to Erdogan, in a lapse widely known as “Sovagate.”