ANTALYA / ISTANBUL
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), held for the fourth time in the Turkish resort city of the same name under the patronage of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and hosted by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, officially began on Friday with global leaders in attendance.
This weekend, the city will feel a large diplomatic presence during the three-day gathering.
Known for hosting millions of tourists annually, Antalya has previously welcomed world leaders for major events such as G20 and NATO summits. This will be the fourth time the city hosts the forum.
The forum, which Erdogan will also attend, will take place at the NEST Congress and Exhibition Center in the Belek Tourism Area. This year’s forum will be organized around the main theme "Owning Diplomacy in a Divided World."
Necessary preparations have been taken across the city for the high-level guests who will stay at hotels in Belek, where the forum is taking place.
Tight security measures have been taken around the airport, Belek Tourism Center, and the NEST Congress and Exhibition Center, where the forum will be held.
The center, where sessions, bilateral meetings, and press conferences will take place, has been prepared with stands set up by participating institutions and organizations, including Anadolu.
An exhibition stand has also been prepared by the African Cultural House.
Expected to attend the forum are more than 20 heads of state and government, over 50 foreign ministers, more than 70 other government ministers, around 60 senior representatives of international organizations, and over 4,000 guests, including students.
On Thursday, Antalya Governor Hulusi Sahin welcomed Umaro Sissoco Embalo, president of the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau, the first to arrive for the forum.
📍 Antalya Diplomacy Forum officially began with global leaders in attendance
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) April 11, 2025
👉 The event saw the participation of heads of state and government, foreign ministers, and representatives from international organizations https://t.co/mMgExBwLsZ pic.twitter.com/Df8SEf1ZG1
Heart of diplomacy will beat in Antalya
Sahin told Anadolu that they are proud to once again host the forum this year, adding that the city has been highly successful in hosting such events such as G20 and NATO summits.
“Antalya takes pride in being a city of such conferences, congresses, and events. The Diplomacy Forum is one of the most important of these.”
All preparations for the forum in the city are complete, he said, and they are already welcoming guests.
"All our hotels are ready. We are one of the cities with the largest hotel capacities in the world, not just in Türkiye. The number of five-star hotels in our city is greater than that of Spain. So we have no issues. Our hotels in the Belek region are fully prepared. All our preparations are complete," he said.
