OPINION - Antalya Diplomacy Forum: Advancing diplomacy in times of turmoil

By Ali Onur Tepeciklioglu

-The author is an associate professor in the Department of International Relations at Ege University, Türkiye. He is the co-editor of the book "Turkey in Africa: A New Emerging Power?" published by Routledge.

ISTANBUL (AA) - The third edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), which concluded on Sunday, garnered significant attention on a global scale. Almost 5,000 participants from 148 countries attended the forum, 19 state leaders and 52 foreign ministers were among them. Not only practitioners but also a rich variety of stakeholders were present at the forum, including world-renowned journalists, businessmen and even students who had the chance to witness diplomacy in practice and receive first-hand information from prominent policymakers on a wide range of global issues. The event marks a huge step forward, solidifying its status as a recognized diplomatic gathering alongside counterparts like Munich and Davos, criticized for being merely “talk shops.”

However, the ADF stands out from similar events due to the robust representation of the Global South. Translating political discussions into concrete solutions also distinguishes ADF from other events alike.


- Gaza crisis and Russia-Ukraine war

In the light of resilient challenges within the international system, the forum took place under the overarching theme, “Advancing Diplomacy in Times of Turmoil.” Serious conversations around other key issues were at the table including peace and security in the Middle East, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in diplomacy, xenophobia, Africa’s potential, the security capability of the EU, sustainable development, food security and even space-related issues. In his opening remarks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan powerfully emphasized that against common expectations, the 21st century has become more and more an age of turmoil in which the international society falls short in fulfilling its responsibilities against humanity. Highlighting atrocities in Gaza and in other places in the Middle East and the urgent need for immediate action, Erdogan stressed the significance of multilateral diplomacy in resolving such issues.

Israeli actions were among the top of the agenda during the forum. Especially in the Gaza contact group panel, it was boldly stated that unilateral third-party involvement would create deeper future problems, and the lack of enforcement mechanisms in international law continues to encourage aggressors. South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor actively participated in numerous panels. The robust representation of South Africa at the forum, a country known for its prolonged fight against apartheid, sends a firm message to the international community regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Given that Türkiye and South Africa share common perspectives in advocating concrete actions against Israel rather than mere rhetoric, this presence underscores their shared commitment.

The forum continued to be a platform for amplifying voices often marginalized in global discourse. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s emphasis on Western efforts to utilize the current international climate to impose its own rules compels us to reconsider the nature of international governance institutions’ current structure.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was also among the leaders who highlighted a pressing requirement for pluralism in international relations. He stressed Hungary’s role as a dissenting voice in the EU, never hesitant to express its own views on the immediate need for a cease-fire in the Russia-Ukraine war as well as differing positions on migration, family and transatlantic relations.

- Dialogue and cooperation

Since its inaugural edition in 2021, the ADF signified its importance for being a stage for dialogue and cooperation. As is well known, the first meeting between Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers took place during the second edition of ADF in 2022, shortly after the outbreak of the war. The ADF sustained its role in eliminating physical and political barriers in front of diplomacy this year. Beyond Erdogan’s talks with 11 heads of state and Foreign Minister Fidan’s meeting with 32 of his counterparts, ADF has continued to serve as a platform for diplomacy amid high-tension hotspots all around the world.

A panel discussion on the Sahel region emerged as particularly significant, bringing together foreign ministers and deputy ministers from Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Ghana. Despite differing views on political issues, these African top diplomats criticized external interventions that have clearly been ineffective in addressing Africa's problems, and for disregarding local realities and African ownership. This perspective resonates with Fidan's call for diverse approaches to global relations, emphasizing regional ownership. Fidan also described the forum as a platform for accommodating various worldviews. This view on the role of the ADF appears to be more pertinent than ever in the years ahead.

*Opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Anadolu