How Hakan Fidan transformed Türkiye’s intelligence agency

Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has undergone a significant transformation since 2010, becoming a more visible and self-reliant institution. According to security experts, this shift is largely due to former long-time MIT chief and current Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s efforts to modernize the agency with advanced operational capabilities and technology.

Ankara’s top intelligence agency underwent a visible transformation within the first two decades of the 21st century, the Daily Sabah publication underscores in their article on the changes adopted at MIT. Cenker Korhan Demir, an associate professor at Hasan Kalyoncu University, attributes this transformation to rising regional and international threats, such as post-Cold War polarization and proxy conflicts in the Middle East.

"These threats kicked off a search for what is called strategic autonomy in foreign policy and pushed Türkiye into action,” he told the journal.

The MIT’s evolution began in the early 2000s when it mainly functioned as a support mechanism. However, by the 2010s, following the appointment of Hakan Fidan as intelligence chief in 2010, a position he was to retain until 2023, it had transitioned into an operational force. Several legislative changes, including a key amendment in 2014, expanded its authority, allowing it to conduct foreign operations.

By incorporating the Electronic Systems Command from the General Staff, establishing directorates for foreign operations, signal and cyber intelligence, and modernizing its infrastructure, MIT has enhanced its capabilities. Demir pointed out that intelligence ships, armed drones, and reconnaissance planes, combined with human intelligence, have strengthened the agency’s effectiveness, particularly in cross-border military campaigns like Operations Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, and Peace Spring in Syria, Iraq, and Libya.

Wind of change

A defining moment in MIT’s operational expansion was its engagement in leadership "decapitation" operations—targeting high-profile terrorist leaders. In 2018, the MIT conducted its first overseas operation, eliminating PKK leader Ismail Özden in northern Iraq. Subsequent missions saw the elimination of other key figures, including Sofi Nurettin in 2020 and Ali Haydar Kaptan in 2021. In April 2023, the agency neutralized Daesh leader Abu Hussein al-Qurashi in Syria.

Beyond direct counterterrorism efforts, the MIT has focused on minimizing civilian casualties in operations, an aspect emphasized in both domestic and international discussions.

Expanding Intelligence Diplomacy

Merve Seren Yeşiltaş, a security and intelligence expert, argues that the MIT has grown beyond its traditional role and now works in tandem with Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry rather than competing with it, referred to as "intelligence diplomacy." The agency has been instrumental in diplomatic maneuvers, particularly through intelligence-sharing agreements with foreign counterparts.

One example was MIT’s role in quickly resolving the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which sent a message to regional and global powers that Türkiye was an independent actor in its region. “It was a kind of warning that initiating any action in Türkiye without its knowledge was not possible anymore,” Demir said.

MIT’s increasing influence has also been evident in high-profile international negotiations, such as the Black Sea grain deal and prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine. Hosting CIA and Russian intelligence chiefs for secret talks in Ankara has further cemented its role as a diplomatic player.

Visibility and Challenges

The growing visibility of MIT highlights Türkiye’s role as a mediator in international conflicts and strengthens its foreign policy with intelligence-driven decision-making. However, Yeşiltaş warns that heightened visibility also means increased scrutiny. “There is a herd salivating to prey on your smallest mistake and use it against you when you’re in the spotlight,” she said, emphasizing that intelligence work still requires discretion.

Demir noted that MIT’s strengthened status prevents foreign intelligence agencies from operating freely in Türkiye’s region, giving Turkish diplomats an upper hand in negotiations. Despite technological disadvantages compared to some Western nations, Türkiye’s intelligence model is being closely observed by other countries.

The Future Under Kalın

MIT’s recent growth was largely attributed to Hakan Fidan’s leadership, which combined military expertise with diplomatic strategy. Ibrahim Kalın, previously President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s chief adviser until he was named the MIT’s new director after the May elections, brings a different but complementary skill set. While he lacks a military background, his deep understanding of public diplomacy and analytical approach to Türkiye’s geopolitical landscape may further refine the agency’s role.

Yeşiltaş dismissed concerns that MIT is overtaking the military’s role, arguing instead that Kalın could transform it into a strategic hub for long-term national security planning.

Demir concluded that sustaining MIT’s transformation will require continued investment in education, technological capacity, and institutionalization. “If technical capability is improved, then there is nothing standing in the way of further advancement and expansion,” he said.

By Nazrin Sadigova