Al -Jazeera Net Correspondents
Ankara- Today, Friday, the activities of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum for the year 2025, in its fourth edition, will be launched in the patronage of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and hosting the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, between 11 and 13 April.
The forum acquires special importance this year, given its timing in the midst of international tensions and unprecedented divisions on the global scene, as leaders and officials from different countries meet to discuss ways to “restore diplomacy in a divided world” – which is the slogan of this year’s edition – in an effort to restore momentum to peaceful solutions in the face of escalating conflicts and conflicts.
Sensitive timing
The Antalya Diplomatic Forum will be held in its fourth edition on the impact of the escalation of international polarization and the exacerbation of global crises, at a time when capitals are searching for common spaces for dialogue amid political divisions and increasing conflicts. Since its launch in 2021, the forum has established its position as an active diplomatic platform hosted by Türkiye annually, which combines leaders, officials and decision makers from around the world.
This year’s version comes in light of an internationally complex international scene, which is constituted by developments such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, and renewed tension in the Middle East, especially the war on Gaza, as well as growing global challenges that include climate change and rapid developments in artificial intelligence. In this context, the forum provides an opportunity to re -evaluate the diplomatic tools offered, and to open new channels for dialogue between political parties.
The 2024 edition attracted participants from 147 countries, including 19 leaders of state and governments, and witnessed the organization of more than 50 discussion sessions that dealt with various political, security and development issues.
A serious platform
Marwa Aisha Kazz Aslan, an expert on international relations in the communication circle headed by the Turkish Republic, stressed that the forum is no longer just an organizational effectiveness, but rather a serious platform in which real initiatives are presented to achieve peace and stability in sensitive regional issues, noting that the participants in the forum find a unique ground to exchange views and discuss solutions through direct dialogue.
Kazel Aslan considered, in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net, that the high presence this year reflects important connotations related to Turkey’s role in global diplomacy, and at the same time confirms that the forum is seen as an influential and serious platform in dealing with major international issues, stressing that this momentum reflects the growing confidence in Turkey.
The researcher explained that the basic message of the current forum is that “whatever the size of the division and the difference is, the solution still passes through dialogue.” She emphasized that what the Ukrainian and Palestinian arenas are witnessing – especially in Gaza – from the worsening humanitarian crises, shows again the importance of activating the tools of political dialogue, in light of the international regime’s inability to deal effectively with this type of crisis.
Kazel Aslan considered that the Antalya Forum is not satisfied with offering crises on the table, but rather highlights how the dialogue can be converted into a realistic ground to produce solutions and build understandings.
International participation
Turkish diplomatic sources told the Anatolia Agency that the forum is witnessing this year the participation of more than 20 heads of state and prime minister, including the heads of Turkey, Djibouti, Kosovo, Guinea -Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Montenegro, Rwanda, Serbia, Uzbekistan and Zambia.
According to the sources, approximately 50 foreign ministers, including foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Iraq and Jordan, are also attended, in addition to the participation of officials of regional and international organizations, led by the Secretary -General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary -General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Ibrahim Taha, and the Secretary -General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jassim Muhammad Al -Badawi.
Attendance is not limited to official personalities, but the forum also includes a wide elite of decision makers, experts and representatives of international and regional organizations, as well as personalities from the business world, the media and civil society institutions.
For his part, political analyst Omar Afshar said – in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net – that this wide international presence reflects the escalating position of the Antalya Forum as a reliable platform for dialogue, and confirms that Ankara is seen as an important diplomatic meeting point, capable of collecting separate parties at the same table.
Afshar pointed out that Türkiye is investing through this forum to consolidate its location as a diplomatic force, which combines East and West, and presents itself as a possible mediator in a number of thorny files.
Intense schedule
According to diplomatic sources, the Diplomatic Antalya Forum, for 3 days, embraces more than 50 discussion sessions held in various interactive formulas, and deals with regional and international issues covering geographical areas that extend from the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, through Africa, to Latin America.
The forum discusses prominent files on the global agenda, including climate change, anti -terrorism, humanitarian aid, digital transformation, and food security, as well as challenges related to artificial intelligence.
On the sidelines of the forum, a series of high diplomatic meetings will be held, foremost of which is the “Communication Group for Gaza” meeting, scheduled for the first day of the forum, with the participation of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries, as well as representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.
Antalya also hosts two other meetings, the first for the mechanism of tripartite consultation between the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Croatia, and the second for the high -level security mechanism between Türkiye and Iraq.
(Tagstotranslate) Politics (T) Tunisia (T) Arabic