Antalya Diplomacy Forum Opens With 150+ Countries

The 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum opened on April 17 in southern Türkiye, drawing leaders from more than 150 countries under the theme "Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties." President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan delivered the opening addresses.

Heads of State and Senior Officials

The forum brought together more than 20 heads of state, 15 vice presidents and 50 ministers. Among the high-profile attendees were Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. Armenia was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan.

Sidelines and Bilateral Meetings

Erdoğan held a working meeting with al-Sharaa centered on lifting international sanctions on Syria, with Türkiye pledging continued diplomatic effort. Aliyev also met al-Sharaa in a separate bilateral. The flurry of side meetings underscored Antalya's growing weight as a regional diplomatic venue.

Theme and Agenda

With wars in Ukraine and the Middle East as backdrop, organizers framed the forum as a venue for "managing uncertainties" rather than projecting easy answers, signaling a more sober tone than past editions.