The fourth edition of the GRF İlter Türkmen Diplomacy Seminars, which bring senior undergraduate and graduate students together with leading scholars and practitioners, took place in İzmir on October 19-22, 2026. Following the opening at Yaşar University, the sessions continued at İzQ İzmir Innovation Center.

This year’s theme was “The Role of Diplomacy in a Transforming International Order.” At a time when the wars surrounding Türkiye have returned security to the center of international politics, and technology and economic interdependence are reshaping the tools of diplomacy, 18 participants met with 20 experts, including ambassadors, scholars, representatives of international organizations, and journalists, across 13 sessions.

The program opened with security. A session on the Alliance’s security architecture after NATO’s Ankara Summit in July emphasized that deterrence now rests not only on denial but also on societal resilience and industrial capacity. Regional conflicts, the collapse of international norms, and the crisis of global governance were also on the first day’s agenda. Representatives of UNHCR and WFP addressed the geopolitics of migration and food security.

On October 21, the sessions examined how artificial intelligence is transforming politics and decision-making, and the social and political consequences of global income inequality. A session with Singapore’s Ambassador to Türkiye focused on Asia’s transformation and its implications for diplomacy. The day closed with a discussion of the present and future of Türkiye-EU relations.

The final day opened with international mediation and Türkiye’s role in the field. In an experience-sharing session with senior diplomats, participants asked about diplomatic careers and the profession itself. The sports diplomacy session discussed sport as a channel of communication between countries and an instrument of soft power, along with its limits. The session on trade negotiations and economic diplomacy examined how free trade agreements are negotiated and the growing weight of trade in foreign policy.

Also, on the final day, GRF and Diplomats Without Borders (DWB) launched their joint report, “Peace and Security Through Diplomacy.” The program concluded with a certificate ceremony for all 18 participants.

The full program of the GRF İlter Türkmen Diplomacy Seminars 2026 is available here, and the report “Peace and Security Through Diplomacy” is available here.