Turkey's response to the Armenian genocide has involved a consistent denial of the events that transpired during World War I, characterized by a refusal to acknowledge the mass killings and deportations of Armenians as genocide. Turkey has sought to reshape historical narratives, emphasizing that the deaths were part of wartime violence rather than a targeted campaign against Armenians specifically. This denial is often supported by various methods, including the promotion of alternative historical interpretations, lobbying to influence educational content abroad, and fostering alliances with countries that share similar denialist perspectives.
Other countries have reacted with a mix of recognition and denial of the Armenian genocide; some, particularly in Europe and the Americas, have officially recognized it as genocide, while others have been hesitant to challenge Turkey due to diplomatic and economic interests.
Proponents of the view that the events do not constitute genocide often argue that the mass deaths during that period were the result of civil war, famine, and disease rather than a deliberate plan to exterminate the Armenian people, claiming that other ethnic groups also suffered similarly during the tumultuous period of the Ottoman Empire's dissolution. They often highlight the lack of intent to wipe out Armenians as a distinct ethnic group, proposing that the circumstances were more complex and intertwined with the broader context of wartime chaos.