PARTICIPATION OF THE ASEAN CENTER IN THE 2026 ANTALYA DIPLOMACY FORUM

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hatice Çelik, Director of the Ankara Social Sciences University (ASBÜ) ASEAN Application and Research Center, represented our center at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 (#ADF2026), held under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye.

As part of the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çelik participated as a speaker in the high-level panel titled "Navigating Regional and Global Challenges: ASEAN’s External Partnerships in an Era of Strategic Rivalry," moderated by Mr. Danial Rahman, CEO of the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI). The panel also featured H.E. Meas Kim Heng, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and H.E. Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Trade and Industry of the Republic of Singapore, as speakers.

The session provided an in-depth analysis of ASEAN’s growing role in middle-power diplomacy and its potential to act as a stabilizing force in an increasingly fragmented global order. The discussions underscored that to remain relevant and effective amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics, ASEAN must sharpen its external partnerships by focusing on high-impact strategic sectors such as the digital economy, green energy, resilient supply chains, and conflict prevention. It was emphasized that in a world defined by uncertainty and intensifying great-power competition, ASEAN’s ability to translate these partnerships into practical outcomes will determine whether the organization remains merely a facilitator of dialogue or emerges as a decisive strategic actor.

On the margins of the event, special gratitude was expressed to H.E. Ambassador Serap Ersoy, Director General for Multilateral Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye and a member of the Advisory Board of our ASEAN Application and Research Center, for her continuous support to our center.