Politics
EU ties on agenda as Dutch FM set to visit Türkiye
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen will make his inaugural visit to Türkiye on Thursday. The minister, who assumed office in February, will meet Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara, with a busy agenda on Turkish-Dutch relations and other issues.
Foreign Ministry sources said on Wednesday that during the talks, Fidan is expected to highlight the importance of improving multidimensional relations between the two countries, especially in the framework of the planned 11th meeting of the “Wittenburg Conference” in Türkiye.
The conferences were inaugurated in 2008, in the eponymous castle in the Dutch Wassenaar. They were scrapped between 2014 and 2018 as the two countries’ relations deteriorated over a series of issues, particularly over the Dutch opposition to a campaign on the Turkish constitutional referendum that led to a diplomatic crisis. The sides resumed relations in 2019.
Still, issues remain between the two countries while Ankara apparently hopes to overcome them with the new Dutch government, which took office two months ago. One of them is the extradition of a terror suspect. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, who hosted his Dutch counterpart David van Weel earlier this month, pointed out the issue at the meeting. Gürlek stated back then that they were still awaiting the extradition of 217 Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) and eight PKK members from the Netherlands, according to the minutes of the meeting released by the Turkish Ministry of Justice. FETÖ, which is known for its widespread infiltration in Türkiye, tried to overthrow the government three times in 2013 and 2016. When their network was uncovered in the wake of these attempts, members of the terrorist group fled abroad, mostly to Europe. Germany and the Netherlands were among the “safe havens” they found. European countries were quick to grant asylum to FETÖ members who portrayed themselves as members of the so-called innocuous-sounding “Service (or Gülen) Movement.” Gürlek also urged the Netherlands not to grant asylum or hand out residence permits to members of FETÖ and the PKK and to consider reviewing permits already issued.
Foreign Ministry sources said Fidan would also discuss sustaining work to increase bilateral trade volume to $20 billion. In 2025, the trade volume was $13.3 billion. The Netherlands ranks first among countries with direct investment in Türkiye, which reached to $33 billion in 2025. Türkiye’s direct investment in the Netherlands exceeded $21 billion. Two countries have a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), which held its last meeting in Istanbul in January 2025.
Fidan is also expected to highlight the need for having a strategic viewpoint by the European Union in Turkish-EU relations and, in this context, will voice Türkiye’s anticipation of progress in matters including updating the customs union and establishment of visa liberalization, sources said. He will also talk about the need for cooperation with all partners under the umbrella of NATO for initiatives launched by the European Union to improve the continent’s security. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and a fallout with the United States on defense pushed Europe to boost its defenses. Last year, EU countries adopted a regulation setting up SAFE, a new financial instrument designed to support member states that wish to invest in defense industrial production through common procurement, focusing on priority capabilities. Türkiye seeks inclusion in the mechanism as a partner.
The talks will also focus on the Turkish diaspora in the Netherlands and how Türkiye prioritized their peace and prosperity. The European country hosts a Turkish community of around 500,000 people.
In addition, Fidan will discuss the conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran that began with attacks on Iran and continued with Iran’s attacks on third countries. The ministry sources said Fidan will share information about efforts for a peaceful solution to the conflict. Separately, the Turkish minister will highlight how Israel’s illegal moves in the Palestinian territories, annexation policies and escalating attacks on Lebanon threatened regional stability. He will stress that Israel’s attempts and provocations targeting sacred sites, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, were unacceptable.
Sources said Fidan will reiterate Türkiye’s commitment to success in diplomatic processes to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict and underline how important it was for Syria to stay away from regional conflicts in its path to recovery, after years of civil war.
Türkiye and the Netherlands pursue close dialogue in the face of regional and global challenges and maintain multidimensional relations with political, economic, military and social aspects.
The last high-level meeting between the two countries was between then-Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the margins of the NATO summit in June 2025. Fidan himself visited the Netherlands for the 10th meeting of the Wittenburg Conferences in April 2024.
Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said Türkiye plays a central role as a stabilizing and constructive force in both regional and global affairs, describing the country as a “key to peace.”
“Under the leadership of our President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, our country stands out not only in its region but also in the world as a constructive and balancing actor, guided by the understanding that Türkiye is the Key to Peace,” he said on his Türkiye-based social media account NSosyal.
“With strong leadership and effective diplomacy, Türkiye continues to be identified in regional crises not with conflict, but with solutions; not with polarization, but with stability. The humanitarian stance displayed in wars and crises on a global scale is the strongest reflection of the diplomacy of compassion, which places our country alongside the oppressed,” he added.
Duran’s post also included a video featuring President Erdoğan’s previous remarks on world peace and his bilateral meetings with various leaders.
Türkiye’s foreign minister accused Saturday of using security concerns as cover for territorial expansion, in the latest flare-up in escalating tensions between the two regional powers.
Israel and Türkiye have been trading near-daily diplomatic barbs over a range of regional conflicts, from Israel’s war on Gaza to rising tensions linked to Iran.
“Israel is not after its own security. Israel is after more land,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in the Mediterranean resort city.
“Security is being used by the Netanyahu government as an excuse to occupy more land,” he added, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking in English at a panel discussion, Fidan said Israel had created an “illusion” internationally by portraying itself as acting purely in its own defense.
“It has become very clear, especially in recent years, that it is more than that,” he said.
From Palestinian lands including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and now extending towards Lebanon and Syria, Israel was pursuing “an onward occupation and expansionism in the region,” Fidan said.
“I think this has to stop.”
“Israel has to know that the only way to live peacefully in the region is to let other countries enjoy their own security, territorial integrity and freedom, and not to use power against them,” he added.
Türkiye and Israel have frequently been at odds, including over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza that have killed over 73,000 Palestinians and differences over Syria’s future.
Relations were severely strained in 2010 when Israeli forces raided a flotilla of ships attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, killing nine Turkish activists and one U.S. national. The flotilla was co-organised by a Turkish aid group.
‘Move back to Russia-Ukraine talks’
Fidan on Friday met the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt for talks on regional issues, including the Middle East conflict, on the sidelines of the forum.
Asked about the discussions, Fidan said regional countries needed to come together to address shared challenges.
“It is time for all of us to come together in a very mature way and own our problems,” he said, again singling out Israel as the only country seeking territorial gains.
Commenting on Türkiye’s quiet diplomacy over the Russia-Ukraine war, Fidan said those efforts had been overshadowed by tensions involving Iran.
“That has left the Russia-Ukraine war on the side,” he said.
He added that attention should shift back to Ukraine talks once tensions with Iran eased, warning that the conflict remained open to escalation.
Türkiye, which has hosted several rounds of Russia-Ukraine negotiations, is also hosting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at separate panels during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday urged the sides in the Iran war to seize the two-week cease-fire as an opportunity to secure lasting peace.
“I believe the window of opportunity opened by the cease-fire should be used in the most effective way to establish lasting peace,” Erdoğan said at the opening of the three-day Antalya Diplomacy Forum at the Mediterranean resort.
“No matter how deep the disagreements may be, we must not allow words to be replaced again by weapons,” he said, adding that, “The shortcut to peace is constructive dialogue and diplomacy.”
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were due to meet later on Friday on the sidelines of the forum, with the war and the blockade of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz expected to dominate discussions.
Erdoğan was due to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on the margins later Friday.
Türkiye, a vocal critic of Israel, has joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to help secure a cease-fire in the conflict, while maintaining that the truce should also apply to Lebanon.
Erdoğan did not comment directly on the latest cease-fire reached between Israel and Lebanon but warned against attempts to derail talks.
“We must be prepared and vigilant against Israel’s attempts to dynamite the negotiation process,” he said.
Turning to the Strait of Hormuz, Erdoğan said access to the waterway must not be restricted.
“One side of Hormuz is Iran, while the other side is Oman. The right of Gulf countries to access open seas must not be restricted,” he told the forum, calling for freedom of navigation “based on established rules” and for the strait to remain open to commercial vessels.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who spoke ahead of Erdoğan, warned against Israel’s expansionist policies. He was scheduled to meet his counterparts from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt on the margins of the forum.
Ukraine, Syria
Erdoğan also addressed the Russia-Ukraine war, saying Türkiye is ready to host negotiations and a possible leaders’ summit for a lasting peace in Eastern Europe.
On Syria, Erdoğan lauded Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s efforts to restore peace and stability in Syria following the ouster of Bashar Assad in December 2024 and reiterated Ankara’s support to Damascus and the Syrian people.
He also pointed to Türkiye’s engagement in Syria, the Balkans and the Caucasus, emphasizing efforts to promote stability, normalization and economic cooperation across neighboring regions.
‘Path to peace is diplomacy’
Erdoğan said diplomacy must be understood not only as a tool for resolving conflicts but as a broader platform for shaping humanity’s shared future, describing the Antalya Diplomacy Forum as a hub for “global reason and conscience.”
He argued that today’s challenges reflect a deeper crisis of values and legitimacy in the international system, criticizing what he called selective justice and ineffective global institutions, particularly in the face of humanitarian crises such as Gaza.
Erdoğan urged reforms to make global governance more representative and credible, while emphasizing dialogue as the only viable path to lasting peace.
He also stressed the need to prevent escalation, support cease-fire efforts, safeguard freedom of navigation in key waterways like the Strait of Hormuz, and expand cooperation on energy and connectivity.
East Med, Cyprus, Greece
Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s position on the Eastern Mediterranean, calling for inclusive approaches and rejecting unilateral actions that exclude Turkish interests. He said improved relations with Greece should contribute to broader regional stability and respect for minority rights.
Türkiye will continue supporting peace and stability in Libya and across Africa, Erdoğan said, adding that Ankara backs diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts such as the crisis in Sudan and supports Somalia’s development and security.
NATO summit, COP31
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye will host a NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara later this year, reaffirming its role in Euro-Atlantic security, while reiterating its goal of EU membership.
He also announced that Antalya will host the U.N. COP31 climate conference, emphasizing youth-focused sustainability efforts, and concluded by calling for greater global solidarity to build a more just and inclusive international order.
More than 150 countries are represented at the event, including over 20 heads of state and government and nearly 15 deputy leaders. The forum also brings together more than 50 ministers, over 40 of them foreign ministers, as well as representatives from 75 international organizations.
In total, more than 460 high-level participants and nearly 5,000 attendees, including academics and students, are expected to take part.
Participants from Africa and Europe make up nearly half of the attending heads of state, while foreign ministers are expected to join mainly from Africa (around 40%), Europe (35%) and Asia (22%).
The forum features more than 40 panels and events, including leadership-level discussions addressing political, economic, environmental and technological challenges, with a particular focus on the evolving global landscape.
The 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum opened in Türkiye on Friday, gathering global leaders and top officials to discuss rising international challenges and uncertainties, including the Middle East war.
Held under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and hosted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the three-day forum is taking place in the southern Mediterranean city of Antalya under the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties.”
The high-stakes forum is also bringing together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Pakistan’s powerful army chief met senior negotiators in Tehran on Thursday as Washington and Iran considered a fresh round of talks to end the six-week war.
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are to meet on the sidelines of the forum, with the war and the blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz expected to dominate. The timing of the meeting has not yet been announced.
Pakistan has positioned itself as a key mediator in regional diplomacy, having hosted rare talks between Iran and the U.S. last weekend, which ended inconclusively.
“We are making the necessary efforts to reduce tensions, extend the cease-fire and continue the negotiations,” Erdogan said in an address to his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Parliament this week.
“Negotiations cannot take place with clenched fists. Weapons must not be allowed to speak again instead of words. The window of opportunity opened by the cease-fire must be fully utilized.”
The White House has said further talks with Iran would “very likely” be in Islamabad, where Vice President JD Vance led the U.S. delegation in the last round of negotiations.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who met Qatar’s ruler in Doha on Thursday as part of a regional tour, will also join the forum and meet Erdoğan on its margins, as Islamabad pushes for a U.S.-Iran second round.
“We will continue to provide all the support we can to ensure that the ongoing temporary cease-fire turns into a permanent one,” a Turkish Defense Ministry source said on Thursday.
“We hope that this war, whose effects are being felt increasingly not only regionally but also globally, will come to an end as soon as possible, and that the parties will act constructively in the ongoing negotiation process,” the source said.
Türkiye, while a vocal critic of Israel, has joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to help reach a cease-fire in the conflict.
Ankara has said the Middle East cease-fire should include Lebanon, which is facing Israeli attacks.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday that the strategic Strait of Hormuz should be reopened “as soon as possible” while warning that its status would remain a key point of contention.
He described the waterway as an “international free passage zone,” adding that any disruption to freedom of navigation is not something parties want to see.”
More than 150 countries are expected to take part in the Antalya gathering, including more than 20 heads of state and government.
Among the participants are Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
More than 150 countries are represented at the event, including over 20 heads of state and government and nearly 15 deputy leaders. The forum also brings together more than 50 ministers – over 40 of them foreign ministers – as well as representatives from 75 international organizations.
In total, more than 460 high-level participants and nearly 5,000 attendees, including academics and students, are expected to take part.
Participants from Africa and Europe make up nearly half of the attending heads of state, while foreign ministers are expected to join mainly from Africa (around 40%), Europe (35%) and Asia (22%).
The forum features more than 40 panels and events, including leadership-level discussions addressing political, economic, environmental and technological challenges, with a particular focus on the evolving global landscape.
Sessions are being streamed live on the forum’s official website and social media platforms, with several also broadcast by Türkiye’s public broadcaster TRT.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Friday that a strengthened partnership between Syria and Türkiye could serve as a cornerstone for regional stability and global security, as his country seeks to rebuild ties and reposition itself after years of conflict.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), al-Sharaa emphasized the historical and geographic ties between the two countries, describing their relationship as a foundation on which broader cooperation could be built.
“The Syria-Türkiye partnership is a base upon which many things can be constructed for the future of regional and global security,” he said.
Al-Sharaa noted that Syria had been largely isolated from the region and the international community under the former regime, but said the country’s transition had opened new opportunities to restore diplomatic and economic relations.
“The liberation of Syria from the former regime created an opportunity to rebuild ties regionally and internationally,” he said, adding that Türkiye had been a consistent supporter of the Syrian opposition for more than a decade.
He described Syria as moving from a period of crisis into a period of opportunity, highlighting ongoing efforts to attract investment and deepen cooperation with regional partners, particularly Türkiye.
Addressing energy security and supply chains, al-Sharaa said Syria’s geographic position offers strategic advantages as a transit corridor linking East and West.
He pointed to disruptions in global energy markets following recent regional tensions, including conflict involving Iran, as increasing the importance of alternative routes.
“Syria can provide a secure corridor for energy supply and trade routes,” he said, noting connections linking the Arab Gulf to Türkiye through Syria and Jordan, as well as access to the Mediterranean Sea.
He also referred to the so-called “Four Seas” project, a regional integration initiative aimed at connecting energy and trade networks across the Caspian Sea, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Gulf. Al-Sharaa said the project reflects a broader global demand for secure supply chains and diversified energy routes.
As part of economic cooperation, al-Sharaa said Syria and Türkiye are working on establishing a free trade zone in the northwestern province of Idlib, located along key transit routes connecting Idlib, Latakia, Aleppo and Damascus.
He added that infrastructure projects are underway, including airport expansions and port investments, with Turkish companies playing an active role in Syria’s reconstruction efforts.
Integration process
On internal developments, al-Sharaa said progress had been made in integrating various armed groups into a unified national framework.
He noted that forces linked to the YPG terrorist group are being incorporated into state structures, while remaining foreign military elements in northeastern Syria have withdrawn.
“The integration process between the Syrian state and these forces is ongoing and progressing positively,” he said, describing it as critical for national stability.
On Jan. 30, the Syrian government announced that it had reached a comprehensive agreement with the U.S.-backed YPG aimed at ending divisions in the country and launching a new phase of integration.
The ministry said the completion of the handover of U.S. sites “represents a natural outcome of the successful integration of the YPG into national structures, and of the Syrian state assuming full responsibility for combating terrorism and addressing regional threats on its territory.”
Recently, the Syrian Foreign Ministry also announced that the government has taken control of all military bases previously used by U.S. forces deployed in the country as part of the international coalition against Daesh, marking a significant shift in control over northeastern regions.
The ministry said in a statement that it “welcomes the completed handover of military sites where United States forces were previously present in Syria to the Syrian government,” adding that the move was carried out “in full coordination between the Syrian and American governments.”
Moreover, reflecting on the Antalya forum, he praised Türkiye’s role in hosting international dialogue platforms and contributing to global diplomacy.
“Türkiye has become a country with significant influence both regionally and globally,” he said.
He concluded with a message to the international community, urging engagement with a changing Syria.
“Syria is no longer defined by crisis,” he said. “It is becoming a place of reconstruction, stability and a new future, a historic opportunity.”
United Nations officials and Turkish lawmakers highlighted expanding cooperation on humanitarian and development issues during a panel held on the sidelines of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Istanbul.
The discussion, titled “U.N. presence in Türkiye: A test case for closer cooperation between the U.N. and parliaments,” brought together senior U.N. representatives and parliamentarians to assess how legislative bodies can support global development goals and humanitarian work.
U.N. Resident Coordinator in Türkiye, Babatunde Ahonsi, said parliaments play a central role in translating international commitments into national law and ensuring accountability. He said Türkiye has developed a “diverse and inclusive” partnership with the U.N. system, adding that cooperation has continued for years with a strong focus on humanitarian priorities.
Ahonsi noted increasing coordination with the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye and said efforts are moving toward more structured institutional engagement, particularly in areas such as human rights, gender equality, empowerment and child protection.
Daniela Carmela Ciccihella, deputy representative of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Türkiye, said cooperation with lawmakers is critical in shaping legislation affecting refugees and stateless people. She said the U.N. Refugee Agency provides parliamentarians with data, trend analysis and policy support to inform decision-making, stressing the importance of integrating refugee protection into legislative and budgetary processes.
Maryse Guimond, director of U.N. Women in Türkiye, highlighted efforts to strengthen women’s participation in political leadership, saying inclusive governance is key to sustaining peace. She noted that dialogue platforms for women parliamentarians have been established, describing them as a “transformative step” in advancing gender equality.
Malti Gandhi, deputy representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund in Türkiye, said Türkiye serves as a model for cooperation with UNICEF, particularly in turning child-focused priorities into policy discussions at both public and legislative levels. She said the U.N. seeks to support national decision-making while contributing comparative global expertise.
Gandhi added that the broader goal of U.N. engagement with parliaments is to improve living conditions and ensure that “no one is left behind,” underscoring the importance of sustained dialogue between international institutions and national legislatures.
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