Saturday, April 18th 2026
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said today that the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) aims to create a platform focused on regional challenges, warning that the weakening of multilateralism and increasing instability make diplomacy “more important than ever”, reports Anadolu.
“Diplomacy is much more important than ever and much more necessary than ever”, said Fidan, speaking on the second day of the Fifth Forum. of Diplomacy in Antalya.
Fidan pointed out that global diplomacy platforms often give priority to issues focused on the West, while conflicts in the Middle East, North Africa, the Balkans and the Mediterranean receive limited attention.
“But regional issues, especially those very related to our region, have not been discussed in depth,” said Fidan, adding that the Diplomacy Forum in Antalya offers “a unique opportunity for our region to hold regional discussions and bring some regional solutions and ideas.” He said diplomacy has become increasingly critical as the international system weakens. “In an era where we see a decline in multilateralism and the international order, we need much more dialogue,” he said, warning that the breakdown of global rules forces countries to rely more on coordination to avoid conflict. He said the post-Cold War international system began to weaken after 2010, describing the current period as a “free fall” that requires countries to reconsider global governance.
“If we wait for the usual system to run its course … and see a war or destruction … then we begin to learn,” Fidan said. “This time, we hope that instead of learning from mistakes, we start learning from wisdom.” Fidan emphasized regional support as a cornerstone of Turkey’s foreign policy, calling on countries in the Middle East, the Caucasus, the Balkans and the Mediterranean to address their own challenges. “When hegemons come to solve the problem, they create more problems than solutions,” he said, adding that regional cooperation between mature states can reduce conflicts.
“Now most of them have become mature states. So it’s time for all of us to come together in a very mature way and take responsibility for our problems”, he said.
– “In diplomacy you have to engage with every side”
Fidan also criticized expansionist policies in the region.
“Every nation is fine. No one wants what belongs to someone else, except Israel. Israel is pursuing expansionist policies,” he said, adding that respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity could solve “over 80 percent of problems.”
He said Turkey maintains dialogue with all parties to conflicts, emphasizing diplomacy over alignment with a “We are engaging in diplomacy, not war,” he said. Africa, to ensure stability and development.
“Too much division, too much bloodshed and too much instability, as well as chain effects, affect the rest of the world,” he said.
Fidan also said that regional conflicts remain highly interconnected and unstable, as they are prone “to any kind of escalation, regional or otherwise.”
As for the Russia-Ukraine war, Fidan said that talks continue despite obstacles and that Turkey is encouraging dialogue and a ceasefire.
“The good thing is that we see both sides and the mediators … still willing to continue,” he said, adding that the conflict continues to cause major consequences globally.
Fidan also said that the war involving Iran has shifted attention away from negotiations on Ukraine.
“As soon as a ceasefire or peace agreement with Iran ends, we should immediately return our attention to the talks. for Ukraine,” he said, warning of the risk of escalation and wider instability.
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Source: prizrenpost
Etiketa: Brief
