This paper examines the Turkish diaspora’s new role as a diplomatic actor along with the various transnational and international tensions arising out of this transformation. Based on 14 months of fieldwork conducted in Turkey, France and Germany, the paper looks at the reasons behind the Turkish state’s unprecedented interest in its diaspora since the early 2000s; details political activism in Europe among the Turkish diaspora; and explores how Turkey’s growing sphere of influence over its diaspora has affected Turkey’s diplomatic relations with European host states as well as with the European Union. A case study of the Turkish émigré community in Europe represents a significant addition to the scholarly literature on diasporas, transnationalism, and international relations at a time when issues of migration and citizenship have become more salient.