Türkiye touts expanded mediation as Antalya Diplomacy Forum draws leaders from 150 countries
Türkiye cast itself as a growing diplomatic broker as the Antalya Diplomacy Forum closed on Sunday, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan highlighting broad participation and a slate of high-level talks aimed at easing regional tensions.
Fidan said the three-day gathering in the southern city of Antalya drew 23 heads of state and government, 13 deputy leaders and 50 government ministers, alongside representatives from 150 countries and 66 international organisations. In total, he said, 6,400 participants joined 52 sessions spanning crises from the Asia-Pacific to Latin America, Europe and Central Asia.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and senior Turkish officials held numerous bilateral meetings on the sidelines, according to Fidan. Among the most closely watched engagements, Türkiye hosted a quadrilateral meeting with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt focused on regional stability, cooperation and maritime security.
Fidan denied speculation that the talks aimed to form a military alliance, saying Ankara is focused on stability and economic development rather than confrontation. “We are not forming alliances against others,” he said, adding that stronger cooperation among the four could unlock regional potential.
Fidan said Türkiye is closely monitoring negotiations between Iran and the United States, with Pakistan playing a mediation role. He described the discussions as having reached a critical stage and expressed optimism that the ceasefire would be extended, saying the international community is urging both sides to keep talks going and avoid a wider war.
A separate meeting of six Muslim countries at the forum addressed a Gaza peace plan, Fidan said, and reaffirmed their joint commitment to pursuing lasting peace. He accused Israel of seeking to depopulate Gaza by killing or displacement and described Israel’s expansionist policies as a growing global security threat.
He added that diplomatic efforts are continuing to prevent further escalation and improve humanitarian conditions in the enclave. On the war between Russia and Ukraine, Fidan said Türkiye remains ready to host further talks “at the technical or leadership level” and warned that attention shifting to other crises should not reduce focus on Ukraine.
“We must not allow attention to shift away from Ukraine and Gaza,” he said. Fidan also pointed to progress in the South Caucasus, saying Armenia and Azerbaijan have made significant headway toward a peace agreement and that both sides are sincere in seeking a deal.
He said a breakthrough could stabilise the region and support broader normalisation, including between Türkiye and Armenia. He highlighted the Middle Corridor and the Zangezur corridor—linking Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan—as important for trade and energy security.