BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. The political landscape of the modern world is turning into a real can of worms, with geopolitical upheavals popping up like daisies after a rainstorm. The credibility of international institutions is going down the drain, legal frameworks are on shaky ground, and tensions between various poles are rising.
The struggles over resources, identities, and spheres of influence are eclipsing the traditional roles of diplomacy. In such times, the roles of diplomacy, including conflict prevention and management, ought to be reevaluated, and potentially reinstated.
For this reason, the main theme of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) held in 2025—"Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World"—is not merely a catchy phrase but also a rallying cry to get back to the drawing board of rational thought. The idea of dialogue and words regaining power, not succumbing to the use of force, is emphasized.
Today, ADF isn’t merely a stage for diplomatic chatter; it’s also a beacon of a different kind of globalization model. This model is based on inclusivity, dialogue-driven approaches, sustainable development, and strategic autonomy. Türkiye’s leading position in this initiative, as well as the participation of influential leaders such as President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, makes the forum one of the important power centers of the new multipolar world.
The Forum’s journey is also noteworthy: initially conceived as an initiative, ADF has quickly evolved into an institutionalized platform. Established in 2021 under the initiative of the Turkish Foreign Ministry and with the support of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, from the get-go, this platform has set out to carve a niche for open dialogue and fresh ideas, steering clear of Western strings, right in the heart of the Eurasian region.
The first forums held in 2021 and 2022 already proved that Türkiye is not simply presenting a regular international event here—it is shaping its own "dialogue architecture." This architecture is open to countries in the Global South, the Muslim world, the post-Soviet space, Asia, and Africa. ADF is gradually becoming the "Munich Conference of the East," where the key values are sovereignty, balance of interests, cultural empathy, and strategic vision. Here, it is not ideological templates but rather real and substantive diplomatic exchanges that take center stage.
Azerbaijan’s involvement in ADF is a game changer with a geopolitical twist that can’t be overlooked. President Ilham Aliyev's personal involvement in the forum in 2025 signifies Azerbaijan’s emergence as a key actor in the South Caucasus and the broader East Eurasian region.
Today, Azerbaijan is a steady ship in choppy waters—it serves as a bridge spanning the divide between the West and the East and showcases a winning formula for bouncing back after conflict. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the country has set a new example in terms of energy independence, consistent diplomatic lines, and strategic development. His participation in ADF holds both symbolic and practical significance. It signals Azerbaijan’s coordinated position with Türkiye on key issues such as security, energy, transportation, and the Zangezur Corridor.
The Türkiye-Azerbaijan alliance is no longer explained solely by historical and cultural proximity. The "One Nation, Two States" principle today has a concrete geopolitical meaning. This alliance is based on common strategic thinking and shared interests. Against the backdrop of growing instability in the region, the Ankara-Baku tandem plays a decisive role in conflict prevention, energy and transportation security, and the establishment of a multifaceted foreign policy.
In fact, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum is more than a classic structure; it is a stage for great leaders. As international organizations lose their influence amid rising bureaucracy and contradictions, the political agenda is shaped by the direct initiatives of leaders—presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers.
The 2024 Antalya Diplomacy Forum drew attention with its scale: 19 heads of state and government, 250 representatives from 148 countries, and representatives of 16 international organizations gathered. These figures confirm that the Forum is no longer just another diplomatic event—it has become a concrete example of an alternative approach against the West’s diplomatic monopoly.
In this context, Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ilham Aliyev are not merely participants in the event—they are the intellectual architects of a new multipolar, sovereignty-based order. Both leaders embody a new diplomatic approach grounded in national interests, free from ideological diktats, and based on mutual respect and cooperation.
The ideological line set for the Forum in 2025 is also no accident. The slogan "Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World" was voiced at a time when the global system is at a bifurcation point—a new choice stage. Universal principles are increasingly turning into double standards, international treaties are being replaced by political pressure and geopolitical bargaining, and the roles of institutions like the UN, OSCE, and WTO are diminishing, with sanction-based alliances taking their place.
ADF, however, seeks to restore diplomacy against this backdrop— as the art of what is possible. Even parties in confrontation can sit at the same table here. Sovereignty, diversity, balance of interests, and respect for cultural uniqueness are at the core of this diplomatic philosophy. Unlike the West's "rules-based order" rhetoric, this approach stands in opposition to the one-sided writing and application of rules.
Erdoğan presents the forum as a "Eurasian diplomatic initiative" that counters "limitless globalization". This platform is open to Muslim countries, the post-Soviet space, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. In other words, this forum offers not only Türkiye's diplomacy but also a new global communication model where regional actors gain more trust, are more flexible, and are less paternalistic.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum is no longer just another international event—it represents an institutional platform for the emergence of a new global dialogue model. In this model, sovereignty is more important than obedience, and dialogue is more important than compulsion. Regional cooperation is superior to the dictates of power centers, and leadership initiatives are more effective than structured bureaucracy.
President Ilham Aliyev's participation in ADF 2025 not only strengthens the Azerbaijan-Türkiye alliance but also demonstrates that Baku has become one of the key actors in the Global South, known for its flexible, principled, and fair diplomacy.
On the other hand, through ADF, Türkiye is putting its best foot forward, bolstering its claim to ideological and institutional leadership in the Eurasian landscape. The Forum demonstrates that no matter how much the world changes, there is still room for sound thinking, dialogue, and cooperation. Here, the language of weapons is replaced by the power of words; the violence of diktats is replaced by mutual respect; and sanctions and isolation give way to cooperation as the fundamental principle.
ADF transcends the conventional paradigm of a mere forum.
It's an incubator catalyzing the evolution of diplomatic paradigms. The groundwork for an innovative paradigm of reciprocal comprehension in the context of contemporary crises is being established at this juncture.