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.