Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a key diplomatic meeting on Saturday with Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 in southern Türkiye.
The talks took place at the hotel where Erdoğan is staying, with senior Turkish officials including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar also in attendance. The meeting underscores Ankara’s ongoing engagement with regional stakeholders as part of Türkiye’s active diplomatic push.
Erdoğan’s diplomatic marathon at Antalya forum
The Turkish president has been holding a series of bilateral meetings throughout the forum. On the second day of the event, he hosted a working breakfast with the three members of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s tripartite presidency — Zeljka Cvijanovic, Denis Becirovic and Zeljko Komsic. He also met separately with Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
Libyan prime minister among Erdoğan’s guests
In addition to these leaders, Erdoğan held talks with Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. The Antalya Diplomacy Forum, running through Sunday, has brought together world leaders and senior government officials from around the globe. This year’s theme is “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” reflecting growing global challenges.
Türkiye’s growing role as diplomatic hub
The forum is held under the auspices of President Erdoğan and hosted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Anadolu Agency serves as the forum’s global communications partner. The event, taking place in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, has become a major fixture on the international diplomatic calendar, reinforcing Türkiye’s position as a key mediator and dialogue platform.