A new dialogue and cooperation mechanism has been launched in the Balkans under the leadership of Türkiye. The first meeting of the Balkan Peace Platform was held in Istanbul on Saturday, July 26th. Hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, the meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, and the deputy foreign minister of Albania. Kosovo was represented by its ambassador, as its foreign minister was unable to attend due to a critical vote in parliament. The participants evaluated opportunities for cooperation in many areas such as connectivity, energy, education, and defense, in addition to regional issues and EU accession processes.
01 August 2025
A New Cooperation Initiative by Türkiye in the Balkans: Balkan Peace Platform
How does Türkiye approach regional cooperation in the Balkans? How can the inclusion of six countries besides Türkiye in the first meeting of the Balkan Peace Platform be evaluated? What are the potential benefits and challenges that the Balkan Peace Platform may face?
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