A Hub for Global Diplomacy
The 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), held from April 11–13, 2025, positioned Turkey once again as a central platform for international dialogue. Under the theme “Owning Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” the forum brought together over 20 heads of state, 74 ministers, and 450 senior officials from more than 140 countries.
Hosted under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and organized by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the forum reflected Turkey’s growing role not only in diplomacy but also in regional peacebuilding and global cooperation.
Erdoğan’s Dynamic Diplomatic Agenda
President Erdoğan met with a wide array of leaders across geopolitical divides. These included:
- Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev
- Syria’s President Ahmed Shara
- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa
- Bosnia and Herzegovina’s tripartite presidency
- Bulgarian PM Rosen Zhelyazkov
- Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio
- Sudan’s Sovereignty Council head Abdelfattah al-Burhan
- Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán
- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto
Each meeting focused on regional stability, deepening economic ties, and humanitarian issues. Erdoğan reiterated Turkey’s commitment to “win-win cooperation” in Africa, reconstruction in Syria, and peace diplomacy in the Balkans, Gaza, and Ukraine.
Peace, Trade, and Strategy Intertwined
During his conversation with Ahmed Shara, Erdoğan emphasized Turkey’s long-term goal of helping Syria regain stability. He also voiced support for ending sanctions and reviving bilateral trade.
In discussions with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leadership, he underscored Turkey’s unwavering support for the territorial integrity and constitutional unity of the country. Meanwhile, his talk with Bulgarian and Sierra Leonean officials centered around boosting defense and energy cooperation.
The highlight for many was Erdoğan’s firm stance on Gaza. In his meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mustafa, Erdoğan declared:
“A two-state solution remains the only viable path. Turkey will never accept the forced displacement of the people of Gaza.”
This clear and consistent message resonated across the forum and reaffirmed Turkey’s place as a regional power that champions justice and diplomatic balance.
A Platform for Multipolar Engagement
ADF 2025 featured over 50 sessions tackling issues like climate change, digital governance, terrorism, humanitarian aid, and AI ethics. Countries from the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific participated actively, reflecting the forum’s broad scope.
With 950 journalists on the ground and global sessions broadcast via TRT, the forum showcased Turkey’s capacity to mediate, convene, and lead. More than ever, diplomacy is becoming Turkey’s second soft power, alongside its growing trade and infrastructure capabilities.
Turkey’s Vision: Dialogue, Not Division
President Erdoğan’s intensive bilateral meetings showed one thing clearly: Turkey is not just attending the conversation—it is shaping it. While many regions struggle with fragmentation, Turkey’s message is one of engagement, pragmatism, and stability.
Antalya Diplomacy Forum is no longer just an annual event. It’s a strategic space—where Turkey puts its foreign policy into action and projects leadership from the Mediterranean outward.
From the Middle East to Europe, from Africa to Asia—Ankara is becoming a trusted address for diplomacy.
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