US Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake has recreated this iconic James Bond scene from Skyfall by running across the top of the Grand Bazaar roof in Istanbul while chased by a man in black.

The baffling tribute was posted to his official Instagram account for his more than 10,000 followers with the caption: “He’s gaining on me. Better shed the jacket.”

The photograph shows Ambassador Flake running along the rooftop of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, just like Daniel Craig in the 2012 Bond movie Skyfall.

The photo made headlines in Turkish media, with numerous publications running headlines along the lines of “ambassador imitates James Bond.”

The photo shows Ambassador Flake sprinting along the rooftop wearing a dark Bond-style suit and a pair of sunglasses.

Behind him, a burly man can be seen chasing him.

The US embassy in Turkey claimed in a statement to Turkish media that Ambassador Flake set up the stunt to show his “appreciation for the history of the place.”

Built in 1455, the Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops.

The world-famous tourist attraction attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors on a daily basis.

In the James Bond film, Daniel Craig runs across the roof of the Grand Bazaar and rides a motorcycle across it.

It does not appear that Ambassador Flake decided to re-enact the motorcycle stunt, however.

Skyfall was the third James Bond film to have been shot in Istanbul after “From Russia with Love”, starring Sean Connery (1930-2020) and “The World Is Not Enough” with Pierce Brosnan playing 007.

Jeff Flake, 59, a former senator and a member of the Republican Party, has been the US Ambassador to Turkey since January 2022.

He was a vocal critic of former US President Donald Trump and endorsed Joe Biden for the presidency in August 2020.