President: EU must embrace Türkiye to tackle global challenges

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on the EU to admit Türkiye as a full member, asserting that doing so is essential for the bloc to address its current challenges and claim its place in the evolving global order.

His remarks came during the official opening ceremony of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025), Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“Claims and criticisms suggesting that Türkiye is moving away from its goal of joining the EU are baseless. EU membership remains a strategic objective for our country,” Erdoğan said.

He acknowledged that the accession process has seen little progress in recent years, blaming the lack of movement on “fear, prejudice, and certain actors within the EU” that continue to obstruct negotiations. 

Erdoğan urged the EU to demonstrate political will and commitment to advancing the membership talks.

“We maintain that if the EU wants to overcome its current issues and secure its rightful place in the new global order, it must act accordingly, let go of outdated baggage, and grant Türkiye a rightful place in the EU without further delay,” he stated. 

The 4th edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025), hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, under the auspices of H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is being held in Antalya, Türkiye from April 11 till 13. This year’s theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World” reflects the pressing need for diplomacy to reassert itself as a stabilizing force, amid rising global divisions.

Growing geopolitical rifts, deepening global inequalities, surge in violence targeting civilians, intolerance towards divergent views, uncertainties driven by technological disruptions and multidimensional impact of climate crisis have all shaken common sense of justice and eroded trust in international institutions. The inability of the current international system to find solutions to these contemporary challenges has further strained the already struggling cooperation efforts.

In an era of heightened instability and unpredictability, marked by complex challenges and multiple crises, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum aims to evaluate the systemic problems of the multilateral order and foster dialogue on reclaiming diplomacy in a rapidly evolving international environment. The Antalya Diplomacy Forum gathers global leaders, policymakers, academics, business experts and as well as representatives of media and civil society to explore how diplomacy can turn the tide and navigate us through a fragmented world to find a common ground for collective action. The Forum aims to inspire dialogue to redefine the role and core principles of diplomacy in an increasingly polarized atmosphere. 

By discussing root causes of various problems, the Forum encourages policymakers to reconsider how diplomacy can manage these turbulent times, with a focus on innovative tools for conflict resolution, mediation strategies and regional cooperation mechanisms. To help create a more effective and cohesive international system, the Forum looks for new solutions to address the failures of global governance, by examining the dysfunction and lack of trust in international organisations. 

The role of non-governmental stakeholders complementing traditional diplomatic efforts is also elaborated to discover how diplomacy can become more inclusive, adaptable and resilient. The Forum provides a forward-thinking platform for participants from all around the world to work on joint strategies to make diplomacy the driving force for peace and cooperation.

By Naila Huseynova