President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan engaged in high-level diplomatic talks in Antalya on April 17, 2026, meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the opening of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026. The discussions took place at the NEST Congress Centre in Belek, a key venue for the forum’s fifth edition, which brought together international leaders to address regional cooperation and global challenges.
The meeting formed part of a broader diplomatic agenda that saw Erdoğan also hold talks with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the same day, underscoring Antalya’s role as a hub for international dialogue. Both meetings were conducted within the framework of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, an annual event hosted by Turkey to strengthen bilateral and multilateral engagement.
Accompanying Erdoğan in the talks with Prime Minister Sharif were senior Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, National Intelligence Organisation (MİT) Head İbrahim Kalın, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, Foreign Policy and Security Advisor Akif Çağatay Kılıç, and Presidential Special Communications Director Hasan Doğan. The delegation highlighted the strategic importance Turkey places on its relationships with Pakistan and Qatar.
According to Anadolu Ajansı, which served as the forum’s “Global Communication Partner,” the discussions covered mutual interests in regional stability, economic collaboration, and counterterrorism cooperation. No official transcript or detailed readout of the conversations has been released by the Turkish Presidency as of the time of this report.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026, held from April 16 to 18 in the Belek Tourism Region, focused on themes such as sustainable development, energy transition, and conflict prevention. The forum’s opening ceremony was attended by Erdoğan before his bilateral meetings, marking the beginning of three days of structured dialogue among global leaders.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Antalya ahead of the forum’s official start, engaging in preparatory talks with Turkish officials. His visit underscored the growing strategic partnership between Ankara and Islamabad, particularly in areas such as defence trade, infrastructure investment, and regional connectivity initiatives.
Similarly, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani participated in the forum’s proceedings, holding separate discussions with Erdoğan on energy cooperation, food security, and humanitarian efforts in conflict-affected regions. Qatar has been a key mediator in several international dialogues, and its participation reinforced the forum’s inclusive approach to diplomacy.
The Belek region, located in Antalya’s Serik district, has become a regular venue for high-profile international events due to its modern congress facilities and proximity to major transportation hubs. The NEST Congress Centre, where the meetings occurred, has hosted numerous summits since its inauguration, including previous editions of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also held a standalone meeting with Prime Minister Sharif earlier on April 17, focusing on bilateral agreements in trade, education, and cultural exchange. The talks were described as constructive by both sides, with an emphasis on expanding people-to-people ties and academic collaboration between Turkish and Pakistani institutions.
Defence Minister Yaşar Güler participated in the broader discussions, reflecting the security dimension of Turkey’s engagement with both Pakistan and Qatar. Topics likely included defence industry cooperation, joint exercises, and intelligence sharing, although specific outcomes were not disclosed publicly.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum has grown in prominence since its inception, evolving into a platform where emerging and established powers can engage outside the constraints of larger multilateral institutions. Its 2026 edition attracted representatives from over 40 countries, including heads of state, foreign ministers, and senior officials from international organisations.
No joint statement was issued following Erdoğan’s meetings with Sharif or the Qatari Emir, which is consistent with the forum’s practice of allowing leaders to hold private discussions without immediate public commitments. However, Turkish officials indicated that the talks laid the groundwork for future agreements to be formalised in upcoming bilateral channels.
The forum concluded on April 18 with a closing session addressing the outcomes of the discussions and setting priorities for future editions. Organisers highlighted the importance of maintaining Antalya as a neutral and accessible venue for diplomacy, particularly in a period of heightened global uncertainty.
As of April 17, 2026, no further bilateral meetings between Erdoğan and other world leaders had been officially scheduled for the remainder of the forum. The Turkish Presidency’s communications office stated that updates on any additional engagements would be shared through official channels as they arise.
For ongoing coverage of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and Turkey’s international engagements, readers can refer to official updates from the Turkish Presidency’s website and Anadolu Ajansı’s dedicated forum section, both of which provide real-time information on schedules, participants, and official communiqués.
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