The Foreign Ministry’s Antalya Diplomacy Forum will begin on April 17 in the eponymous Mediterranean Turkish city with the participation of foreign ministers and dignitaries from around the world. The annual event will mark its fifth edition at a time of raging conflicts in the region and talk of a “new order” with major shifts in ties. This year’s theme is fittingly “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties.”

At the forum, Türkiye aims to highlight its vision for diplomacy and peace as Ankara has raised its profile as a key mediator in conflicts in recent years.

With Israel’s aggressive expansionism threatening to further destabilize the region, from the Gulf to Syria and Iran, Türkiye promotes itself as an oasis of stability. The two-day forum will be a platform for Ankara to showcase this vision, discussing sharpening the foresight for future challenges and efficient ways to address those issues.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan are scheduled to make keynote speeches at the forum, which will host leaders’ panels and other sessions entitled ADFPanels, ADFRounds and ADFTalks.

The event is expected to be attended by decision-makers, diplomats, academics, businesspeople, representatives of media and civic society for discussions on managing uncertainties, emergency issues and future challenges through interactive sessions and bilateral meetings.

The forum last year hosted participants from 155 countries, including 21 heads of state and government and 61 ministers.

“As conflicts remain unresolved, polarization grows and strategic rivalries expand, numerous critical issues continue to affect people all over the world. To address these challenges and work toward a more inclusive, fair and effective international system, the consolidation of international cooperation, dialogue and solidarity is imperative,” the forum’s organizers said in a statement on the event’s website.

Türkiye is engaged in a diplomatic blitz on multiple fronts, from the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the U.S.-Israel-Iran war. Under the leadership of Erdoğan, the country seeks a mediator role in conflicts threatening the region and the international community while striving to remain neutral. Over the past two decades, it has become a key actor in international affairs, utilizing its location as a bridge between Europe and Asia and its ability to maintain dialogue with opposite sides of conflicts. This was most evident in its mediating role between Russia and Ukraine. It is the only country that managed to preserve good ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As for the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, the country balances its ties with NATO ally the U.S. and its eastern neighbor Iran successfully as it yearns to bring the sides to the negotiation table.

Erdoğan on Monday acknowledged that they were working for peace amid the U.S.-Israel-Iran war. “If there is even the slightest chance to silence the guns and open space for negotiations, we are making a sincere effort to seize it,” Erdoğan said, describing the conflict as “unlawful, meaningless and illegitimate” and calling for its immediate end. He warned that “as the war drags on, the fire could spread to other countries,” and added that those prolonging the conflict for political survival should remember that “one day, the tide turns.”

Amid escalating crises across the region, Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye’s main agenda is to remain insulated from instability and focus on the well-being of its people. “Our government is in control of its agenda; no one can impose an agenda on us,” Erdoğan told a news conference after the Cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday, dismissing any suggestion of early or snap elections. “Our sole priority is to keep our country away from the fire in our region and improve the livelihood of our nation.”

The president also stressed Ankara’s commitment to peace, warning that prolonged conflicts risk spreading further across the region. “As Türkiye, we will continue to raise our voice for peace,” Erdoğan said, urging the international community to take stronger action against policies that prolong conflict and instability.

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday underscored Türkiye’s growing role as a stabilizing force in the Middle East, praising Ankara’s recent diplomatic engagements with regional actors, including Riyadh, Islamabad and Cairo, to de-escalate tensions stemming from the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran.

Speaking at the inaugural Kuala Lumpur-Ankara Dialogue, jointly organized by the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia, Anwar said Türkiye’s approach under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offers a constructive model centered on dialogue rather than escalation.

“Türkiye, as a country not directly party to the conflict, has chosen dialogue over confrontation. This approach stands as an instructive example,” Anwar said.

Anwar noted that the idea for the Kuala Lumpur-Ankara Dialogue emerged from consultations with Erdoğan, adding that the meeting reflects a shared commitment to strengthening ties at a time when the international community is once again confronting the harsh realities of war in West Asia.

The Malaysian leader described the humanitarian toll of the conflict as severe, citing thousands of deaths, including schoolchildren, and the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure such as bridges, oil refineries and nuclear facilities.

“While countries like Türkiye and Malaysia call for an end to military operations and pursue diplomatic efforts to restore stability, the human and material costs of war continue to mount,” he said.

He further accused Israel of continuing attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as maintaining policies in the West Bank and Jerusalem that disregard Palestinian rights.

Anwar cautioned that the conflict risks expanding beyond a regional crisis, warning of long-term consequences for global energy security. He highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, noting that any sustained disruption there could drive up prices, disrupt production systems and increase living costs for hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

“To prevent a crisis whose effects may last for generations, diplomacy must extend beyond governments to include institutions, industries and societies,” he said.

Turning to bilateral relations, Anwar said the Kuala Lumpur-Ankara Dialogue represents a tangible outcome of deepening ties between Türkiye and Malaysia, strengthened by close personal relations between the two leaders.

Anwar added that both countries aim to enhance collaboration in defense industries, semiconductor technologies, education, research and energy supply.

Highlighting Türkiye’s strategic position bridging Asia and Europe, he said Malaysia has long prioritized relations with Ankara and intends to further deepen cooperation in the years ahead.

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Türkiye and Sudan held the ninth round of political consultations on Tuesday in the eastern Sudanese city of Port Sudan, as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and supporting efforts to resolve Sudan’s ongoing crisis.

Deputy Foreign Minister Musa Kulaklıkaya traveled to Sudan for a series of high-level meetings, including talks with Malik Agar, deputy chairperson of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council.

The consultations were hosted by Sudan’s Foreign Ministry and co-chaired by Kulaklıkaya and Muawiya Osman Khalid, the ministry’s undersecretary. Following the meeting, Kulaklıkaya was also received by Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohyiddin Salim.

The talks were held behind closed doors and attended by Türkiye’s ambassador to Khartoum, Fatih Yıldız.

Speaking to reporters after the meetings, Kulaklıkaya described the consultations as “highly productive,” noting that both sides exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional developments.

“Türkiye and Sudan share deep historical ties, and our relations continue to progress positively across many fields,” he said, adding that both countries aim to support each other in economic, cultural and political areas.

Kulaklıkaya emphasized the importance of maintaining regular high-level engagements, saying such visits play a crucial role in advancing bilateral relations.

“We underlined the importance of today’s political consultations and the need to hold them more frequently,” he said. “We also expressed our determination to continue these engagements and to host our Sudanese counterparts in Türkiye in the near future.”

He added that discussions also focused on efforts to find a solution to Sudan’s ongoing crisis through bilateral, regional and international initiatives.

Türkiye, Sudan ties

Türkiye and Sudan have maintained close relations based on mutual cooperation and a shared commitment to further developing ties. Historical and cultural connections have long supported the multidimensional nature of the partnership.

Ankara has consistently emphasized the importance of preserving Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It has also called for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023, warning that continued instability poses risks to regional and global security.

Despite ongoing clashes, high-level contacts between the two countries have continued. Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Chair Abdel Fattah al-Burhan visited Türkiye on Dec. 25, 2025, where he held talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara.

Türkiye has also continued its diplomatic efforts and humanitarian assistance aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people and supporting long-term stability in the country.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday hosted the U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack. The ministry did not comment on what Fidan and Barrack discussed.

Fidan was in Syria on Sunday for a surprise visit, where he met his counterpart Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, before attending a meeting between President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who arrived in Syria from Türkiye on the same day and boarded a plane lent by the government.

Foreign Ministry sources said on Sunday that Fidan discussed bilateral issues and regional matters with Syrian officials. The talks also focused on bilateral projects for rebuilding postwar Syria and supporting Syria’s capacity-building efforts, sources said. The United States also stepped up cooperation with the new administration in Syria, especially after al-Sharaa’s recent visit to Washington, D.C.

The U.S. has encouraged Syria to consider sending forces into eastern Lebanon to help disarm Hezbollah, but Damascus is reluctant to embark on such a mission for fear of being drawn into the war in the Middle East and inflaming ⁠sectarian tensions, five people briefed on the matter told Reuters last month. The proposal to Syria’s U.S.-allied ⁠government reflects intensifying moves to disarm Hezbollah. Al-Sharaa, however, said in a speech during the Muslim Eid al-Fitr last month that he is working to keep his country away from conflict, against the backdrop of the Middle East war, stressing that his government is on good terms with all regional countries.

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Israel is fueling regional tensions and undermining efforts to end conflicts, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Monday, while stressing that Türkiye’s priority remains shielding the country from instability and strengthening its economy.

Speaking at a news conference after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, the president said Israel is reinforcing its role as a source of instability in the region through its actions in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, criticizing the Israeli government for deliberately obstructing initiatives aimed at ending ongoing conflicts.

“By keeping Al-Aqsa Mosque closed, introducing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, and carrying out attacks in Lebanon and Syria, Israel confirms and reinforces that it is a country that feeds on tension,” Erdoğan said, adding that the Israeli government continues to undermine all efforts aimed at ending the war.

Erdoğan said Türkiye has acted responsibly since the start of the conflict affecting Iran and the Gulf, warning that the war risks spreading across the region as it enters its 38th day.

“If there is even the slightest chance to silence the guns and open space for negotiations, we are making a sincere effort to seize it,” Erdoğan said, describing the conflict as “unlawful, meaningless and illegitimate” and calling for its immediate end.

He warned that “as the war drags on, the fire could spread to other countries,” and added that those prolonging the conflict for political survival should remember that “one day, the tide turns.”

Drawing a sharp historical comparison between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Nazi German leader Adolf Hitler, Erdoğan said, “Those who follow Hitler’s path today are acting not only against humanity but also against their own people,” urging the international community to “put a stop to this course” and stressing that Türkiye will “continue to raise its voice for peace.

Amid escalating crises across the region, Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye’s main agenda is to remain insulated from instability and focus on the well-being of its people.

“Our government is in control of its agenda; no one can impose an agenda on us,” Erdoğan said, dismissing any suggestion of early or snap elections. “Our sole priority is to keep our country away from the fire in our region and improve the livelihood of our nation.”

Erdoğan also underlined Türkiye’s ongoing economic and diplomatic efforts, highlighting the country’s ambition to strengthen its role as a global economic actor and a reliable destination for international investment.

Referring to recent meetings with global business leaders, Erdoğan said Türkiye is increasingly seen as a “safe haven” and “island of stability” in an uncertain global environment.

He noted that diversification policies in energy and supply chains have helped mitigate the impact of regional shocks, including disruptions linked to ongoing conflicts.

Despite global economic volatility, Erdoğan said Türkiye has taken proactive steps to ensure energy security, maintain food supply stability and support key sectors such as tourism and exports.

The president also stressed Ankara’s commitment to peace, warning that prolonged conflicts risk spreading further across the region.

“As Türkiye, we will continue to raise our voice for peace,” Erdoğan said, urging the international community to take stronger action against policies that prolong conflict and instability.

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The deputy mayor of Üsküdar, a district on the Asian side of Istanbul, was among 20 detained on Tuesday in an operation targeting corruption at the municipality run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Authorities said the investigation, which netted Filiz Deveci and municipal bureaucrats, focused on allegations of bribery in exchange for building permits handed out by the municipality.

More than 20 mayors governing CHP municipalities were detained or arrested in the past two years on charges of corruption, along with dozens of municipal bureaucrats. The CHP has won the municipal elections in Üsküdar for the first time in more than two decades in 2024.

A statement by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office said N.A., director of the municipality’s subsidiary Kent A.Ş., was assigned as “deputy mayor” at the municipality, though he was not the official deputy. The statement said the subsidiary acted as a front company for “illegal revenues” collected from contractors seeking building permits from the municipality. N.A. and other suspects from Kent A.Ş. are also accused of acting like members of the municipal department in charge of issuing building permits, greenlighting or rejecting permits, though they were not authorized.

Prosecutors say the suspects set up a secret database and assigned colors to contractors, determining how much they were supposed to pay. They also held meetings with Deveci to decide upon the amount of (bribes) to be asked from contractors in exchange for permits.

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