Introduction
Turkey’s aspirations to become a revisionist middle power, seeking influence through non-coercive means across areas of historical and ideological significance, were strategically advanced by the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) 2025. This incident strengthened Ankara’s goal to reshape its geopolitical position by consciously combining soft power, diplomacy, and civilizational discourse.
ADF presents Turkey’s political viewpoint to the international community. Representatives from Turkey spoke about their nation’s hopes and worries regarding the global system. Additionally, it offers a setting for enhancing its ties with governments, non-state entities, and other international actors. Turkish bureaucrats and decision-makers have the opportunity to talk with their peers about related topics.
The Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) are two important organisations that the Turkish government continues to methodically include in its foreign policy framework in addition to the ADF. These organisations are now crucial to Ankara’s ability to project its religious, cultural, and developmental influence, especially in areas that have historically been associated with Turkic, Ottoman, or Islamic civilisations.
Established in 2021 and now held annually, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum has grown to be a vital component of Turkish foreign policy. Under the theme of “Inclusive Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” the 2025 edition positioned Turkey as a bridge-builder amid the continuing rebalancing of the world order.
The significance of multilateral approaches and diplomacy in the face of a shifting global order was emphasised at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025), which was held in Antalya from April 11–13, 2025. Citing forums like the ADF as possible channels for tackling global issues, participants emphasised the value of communication and the need to support international organisations. Speakers emphasised how important multilateralism is for promoting collaboration, especially in regional alliances pertaining to economic development and security.
In addition to former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, leaders from Montenegro, Moldova, Georgia, and Bulgaria also spoke about the value of regional cooperation, Turkey’s role as a bridge nation, and the potential of multilateralism to address geopolitical and economic challenges. In order to discuss important topics including climate change, terrorism, humanitarian relief, digitalisation, food security, and artificial intelligence, the forum brought together more than 70 ministers, more than 20 heads of state, and officials from international organisations.
The Organisation of Turkic States was the subject of a panel discussion at ADF 2025 that looked at its distinctive cooperative model and prospects for future integration. The importance of shared culture, shared values, and shared infrastructure in strategic alliances was emphasised by high-ranking officials from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and other member states. Standardised regulations, easier intraregional trade, and a common alphabet were at the center of the conversation. Delegates from Azerbaijan emphasised the value of transportation corridors like the Middle and Zangezur Corridors in fostering political confidence and connecting regional economies, particularly between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Ankara-Yerevan relations also benefited from the Forum, as Foreign Ministers Fidan and Mirzoyan met bilaterally to discuss normalising relations between all neighbours, which is the ultimate goal of regional security. They also talked on the possibility of international cooperation, saying that the two nations’ positions on global issues are occasionally more similar than one may think.
Turkey at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum also hosted Nechirvan Barzani, the president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. During his visit, Barzani met one-on-one with both President Erdoğan and temporary President al-Sharaa. The meetings covered important changes in the Middle East’s security environment, the ongoing threat posed by the Islamic State, and the ongoing problem of terrorism. Following Iraq’s designation of the PKK as a banned organisation, the Forum also featured the fifth meeting of the Turkish-Iraqi High-Level Security Mechanism between the respective foreign ministers, Hakan Fidan and Fuad Hussein.
The Forum took place at a time when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government was experiencing severe domestic unrest. Following the arrest of opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu in March 2025, which coincided with a worsening economic downturn and a growing sense of international isolation, protests broke out across the country. The ADF played both national and international roles in this situation, serving as a significant diplomatic symbol overseas.
Diyanet: Ideological Alignment and Religious Diplomacy
Although the Diyanet is ostensibly a religious organisation, it increasingly serves as a tool for ideological projection and strategic communication. According to Ankara’s version of Sunni Islam, namely the Hanafi-Maturidi tradition, its operations include clerical training, infrastructural development, and the propagation of Turkish religious narratives. Its impact extends to:
The Balkans: The restoration of churches built during the Ottoman era and the use of clergy trained in Turkey in North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Central Asia: Institutional cooperation with Kyrgyz and Uzbek religious leaders to strengthen ties via a common Islamic history and reduce the appeal of Saudi-style Salafism.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Expanding presence through the building of mosques, religious instruction, and humanitarian work in nations including Somalia, Nigeria, and Chad.
Russia: Sustaining operational connections with the Russian Spiritual Administration of Muslims, which permits indirect involvement in delicate regions like the North Caucasus and Tatarstan.
TIKA: Using Development Assistance as a Political Tool Once a development organisation, TIKA now more actively advances Turkish strategic objectives, especially in fields where Ankara wants to increase its influence through humanitarian assistance, educational programs, and infrastructure projects. Its initiatives frequently align with commercial growth and economic diplomacy. Among the noteworthy initiatives are:
Balkans: Turkish-branded infrastructure development that frequently accompanies historical and cultural preservation. Investments in Turkology and vocational education programs in Central Asia have strengthened Ankara’s position as the Organisation of Turkic States’ leader.
Africa: Humanitarian initiatives in the Sahel and Horn of Africa that are tightly linked to diplomatic and military establishments, particularly in Somalia.
Projection of Civilisations and Strategic Messaging
The overall civilizational narrative of Ankara is strengthened by the joint efforts of developmental diplomacy and religious diplomacy. This entails presenting Turkey as an innate leader in post-colonial, Turkic, and Islamic contexts. This campaign’s tools include: establishing oneself as an ideological leader through South-South cooperation and global Islamic organisations, encouraging TIKA and Diyanet to continue their cultural and political involvement with expatriate groups, especially in Western Europe, and portraying Turkey as an alternative to authoritarian development in the East or liberal internationalism in the West.
In a panel on Sahelian security, foreign ministers from the Alliance of Sahel States—which includes Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali—discussed the dangers of military takeovers and terrorism. In another panel, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, the president of Somalia, praised Erdoğan for his support in the region’s counterterrorism efforts, emphasising the wide-ranging geographic impact of terrorist threats from West Africa to the Horn of Africa. Terrorism was a key topic of discussion.
Host governments, particularly in Europe, are increasingly resisting such initiatives; Diyanet-affiliated activities have been accused of spreading propaganda, manipulating communities, and engaging in political spying.
However, since Bashar Assad was ousted as Syria’s president in December 2024, the Middle East has seen a dramatic change in dynamics. The need for more active diplomacy in the area has grown over the last few months. Ahmad al-Sharaa, Assad’s successor, met with senior officials from other nations in the area and reaffirmed the Syrian Arab Republic’s commitment to communication and diplomacy. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, advocated for the relaxation of sanctions on the resurgent nation and urged international diplomacy with Syria.
In conclusion
By employing diplomacy, cultural discourse, and soft power to transform global governance, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) 2025 gave Turkey a strategic platform to reaffirm its ambitions as a middle power. The occasion emphasized Turkey’s desire to support regional cooperation and a multipolar globe, especially with nations that share its Ottoman, Turkic, and Islamic roots. For religious and developmental outreach in the Balkans, Central Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, Ankara uses Diyanet and TIKA in addition to the ADF.
But Turkey’s growing religious power abroad runs the risk of strained relations with the West and its neighbours. Particularly in disputed areas, TIKA’s expanding involvement in humanitarian and infrastructural initiatives may harm its reputation. Using the ADF, Diyanet, and TIKA, Turkey strikes a balance between advancing its ideology and diplomatic realities while being aware of possible backlash.
It is likely that the ADF offers a venue for meetings between representatives of third parties and other governments. Ankara, for instance, has helped the new Syrian administration gain international recognition. Several heads of state have visited with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the interim president of Syria, at the ADF. During the event, there were also a few multilateral meetings. At the forum, representatives from both states and non-state entities mingle. Additionally, regional and global issues were discussed and offered by the participants.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum’s fourth edition was a diplomatic success. The high-level gathering once again showed how Turkey is working to resolve disputes and serve as a diplomatic link between nations in a divided world. The ADF continues to be a crucial forum for regional cooperation and multilateralism, supporting crucial bilateral negotiations as conflicts increasingly trump diplomacy. The Forum brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including members of the commercial sector, non-profits, diplomats, and rival governments. Ankara’s desire to promote communication and strive for improved regional and international security was expressed in ADF 2025. This Forum demonstrates Turkey’s diplomatic strength and potential to influence the future of its neighbourhood, the larger region, and global dynamics, as well as its claim to regional leadership.
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