By King’s Office Correspondents
ANTALYA, TURKIYE – How best can we tackle the global turmoil more diplomatically? This is the question that His Majesty the King and more than 15 Heads of State and governments are expected to deliberate upon at the third Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), which is aimed at finding solutions to the upheavals in various parts of the world today.
The forum forms part of the King’s working visit to Turkiye. The ADF seeks to find ways to better use diplomacy in the current state of affairs through an interactive and thought-provoking platform.
It will take place from tomorrow until March 3, 2024, and is to be officially opened by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Among the leaders expected at the forum is the President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina; Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa; Togo’s Fabre Gnassingbe; Central African Republic’s Faustin-Archabge Touadera; the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi; Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud; Djibouti’s Ismail Guelleh; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria’s Rumen Radev; and Kosovo’s Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu.
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Also present are the Prime Ministers of Moldova, Dorian Recean; Burundi’s Gervais Ndirakobuca; Montenegro’s Milojko Spajic; and Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
According to the ADF, this will be the third edition. It will gather heads of state and government, ministers, diplomats, business leaders, academics, think-tankers, youth and media representatives ‘for an all-encompassing debate.’
According to the ADF secretariat, the overarching theme of this year’s forum will be “Advancing Diplomacy in Times of Turmoil.”
It aims to serve as a thorough reflection and the means for searching for a peaceful way out of the turbulent period our world is going through.
It lists these challenges as ongoing wars, acts of terrorism, irregular migration, the rise of xenophobia and Islamophobia, unforeseen risks of AI, climate change, natural disasters, pandemics and widening socioeconomic gaps from a non-exhaustive list of global challenges.
The erosion and subsequently the loss of trust in the rules-based international order are also listed as a worrying trend that is undermining the predictability of the environment in which states operate.
The ADF also notes that these challenges may also act as agents leading to structural changes in the global political, economic and security landscape.
It adds: “Moreover, as one-third of the world’s population is heading to the polls in 2024, many questions about the impact of elections on pressing international issues as well as concerns about AI-manipulated disinformation and fake news will be on the international agenda.”
Forming part of His Majesty’s delegation are the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pholile Shakantu, Prince Mbuyisa, Princess Siphila and Chief Officer Chief Mgwagwa Mdluli, among others.
MIDDLE EAST CONFLICTS, TERRORISM, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND AI, ARE ON THE AGENDA
The Middle East conflict, terrorism, climate change and the challenges being presented by artificial intelligence (AI) are among the key issues for deliberation at the ADF 2024.
The topics also include challenges and opportunities in the Balkans; the EU’s capability to shape global transitions; food and security, a rising challenge; women, peace and security; innovative mediation in times of turmoil; international trade, connectivity and interdependence and new approaches to empowering the least developed countries (LDCs).
The Forum will also deliberate upon new challenges in countering terrorism: youth for global peace; Parliaments’ role in promoting peace and development; realising the potential of Africa; rising racism, xenophobia and islamophobia; the role of culture and education in regional cooperation; shifting paradigms in energy security; the role of financial markets and foreign policy in the changing era of multilateralism; the role of science and technology in a globalised world; and the role of regional mechanisms, among others.
His Majesty the King is also expected to have several other engagements on the sidelines of the forum, while Inkhosikati LaNkambule will participate in the activities and discussions prepared for the First Ladies.
