Global instability makes diplomacy indispensable: Turkish FM Fidan
12:25, 18/04/2026, SaturdayU: Update: 12:31, 18/04/2026, Saturday
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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan makes a speech at a session moderated by Maria Ramos during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held at the NEST Congress and Exhibition Center in Belek Tourism Center under the auspices of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Antalya, Turkiye on April 18, 2026. World leaders and senior government officials convene in Turkiye from April 17 to 19 for the fifth edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, a major international gathering in Antalya focused this year on managing global uncertainty.Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the critical importance of diplomatic engagement during the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, warning that the international system faces a dangerous decline. Speaking in the Mediterranean resort city, Fidan highlighted the need for regional ownership of conflicts in the Middle East, Balkans and beyond.
Antalya Diplomacy Forum's Regional Mission
The fifth installment of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum convened in Turkey's southern coastal city with a clear mandate to address overlooked regional crises. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan positioned the gathering as a necessary corrective to existing global platforms, which he argued disproportionately emphasize Western concerns while marginalizing pressing issues affecting the Middle East, North Africa, the Balkans and the Mediterranean basin. The forum, running through its second day, seeks to generate localized solutions through direct regional dialogue rather than imported frameworks.
Erosion of Global Governance
Addressing delegates, Fidan painted a stark picture of deteriorating international structures, characterizing the current era as a
free fall
that commenced following 2010. The deterioration of multilateral institutions has rendered diplomatic channels not merely preferable but essential for preventing systemic collapse. The minister cautioned against passive observation of unfolding catastrophes, advocating instead for proactive wisdom to preempt the cycle of destruction and reconstruction that historically defines geopolitical transitions.Rejecting Hegemonic Intervention
A cornerstone of Ankara's foreign policy philosophy, according to Fidan, involves empowering neighboring states to resolve indigenous challenges without external imposition. He contended that superpower involvement typically compounds rather than resolves regional disputes, noting that mature nation-states in the Caucasus, Middle East and surrounding areas possess both the capability and responsibility to manage their own affairs. This approach stands in direct contrast to expansionist agendas, particularly those pursued by Israel, which Fidan identified as a destabilizing force violating territorial integrity principles that could otherwise resolve the majority of regional tensions.
Turkey's Non-Aligned Engagement Strategy
Fidan delineated Turkey's distinct diplomatic methodology, emphasizing sustained communication with all conflict parties rather than binary alignment characteristic of warfare. Ankara maintains active channels across diverse flashpoints including Ukraine, Gaza, Iran and various African theaters, prioritizing conflict prevention and resolution over partisan positioning. This strategy aims to insulate trade routes and developmental trajectories from regional volatility while acknowledging the interconnected nature of contemporary crises, where instability in one theater inevitably reverberates across continental boundaries.
Urgent Imperatives in Ukraine and Iran
Regarding active conflicts, the foreign minister confirmed ongoing mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine despite recent complications, noting persistent willingness among principals to pursue ceasefire arrangements. However, he warned that hostilities involving Iran have temporarily diverted international attention from Eastern European peace processes. Fidan stressed the necessity of returning immediately to Ukraine negotiations following stabilization in the Persian Gulf, cautioning that prolonged distraction risks dangerous escalation and cascading global disruption.