TRT World Forum

TRT World Forum serves as an international conference and meeting platform that brings together globally recognized leaders, academics, politicians, journalists, and civil society members.

Objective and Vision

As the global thought platform of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, TRT World Forum aims to establish a fair, pluralistic, and inclusive space for debate within the international public sphere. The forum opens discussions on global issues such as politics, media, economics, the environment, technology, and security with leaders, academics, journalists, thinkers, and civil society representatives from diverse regions. It seeks to address global challenges through the principles of justice, human values, and pluralism by creating an alternative intellectual environment to the Western-centric perspective.

The vision of TRT World Forum is to enhance Türkiye’s influence in international media and intellectual diplomacy, positioning Türkiye as one of the central nations in global thought production through a communication approach grounded in accuracy, humanity, and ethics. The forum is organized annually around a designated main theme, addressing contemporary issues such as refugee crises, disinformation, ethics in the digital age, and climate justice.

Scope and Content

TRT World Forum is an international platform that facilitates debate on political, economic, social, and cultural issues at a global scale. Since 2017, the forum has been held annually around a different theme, gathering heads of state, academics, journalists, experts, and civil society representatives to bring forward solutions to pressing contemporary challenges.

The inaugural forum in 2017, under the theme “Inspiring Change in an Age of Uncertainty,” examined the causes and solutions to global uncertainties. Topics such as armed conflicts, humanitarian aid, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and the social impact of media were discussed across seven public and seven closed sessions.^【1】 

The 2018 event, themed “Designing Peace and Security in a Fragmented World,” analyzed global peace and security issues. Organized by the TRT World Research Center, this summit comprised eight public sessions, eleven closed sessions, six opening addresses, and various special meetings.^【2】 

The 2019 forum addressed current topics in global politics, economics, and society. Session titles included “Identity Politics in a Globalizing World,” “NATO on the Frontline: New Security Threats,” “The New Face of Terrorism: The Far Right,” “Shifting Equilibria and Regional Cooperation in the Middle East,” and “The Refugee Crisis and Europe.”^【3】 

The fourth forum in 2020, themed “The International Order and Changing Dynamics in a Post-Pandemic World,” was held entirely in a digital format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was conducted virtually using a system developed by a Turkish software company, integrated with green screen technology and a game engine.^【4】 

The fifth forum in 2021 gathered approximately 100 speakers from 36 countries under the theme “Power and Paradox: Understanding Grand Strategy in the 21st Century.” Leaders, experts, and academics assessed global strategic balances.^【5】 

The 2022 program, themed “Shaping the Future: Uncertainties, Realities, and Opportunities,” addressed issues such as energy, migration, food security, and Islamophobia through public sessions and roundtable discussions.^【6】 

In 2023, the forum hosted over a thousand participants from nearly 100 countries and more than 150 internationally recognized speakers. Topics discussed included global cooperation, leadership, peace diplomacy, the energy crisis, climate change, migration, disinformation, and digitalization.^【7】 

The 2024 forum, held in Istanbul under the theme “A World at a Tipping Point: Managing Crises and Transformation,” featured a prominent panel titled “The 2024 Elections in the United States and EU Member States: What Lies Ahead for Global Democracy?”^【8】 

The 2025 forum’s main theme was “Global Reconfiguration: From the Old Order to New Realities.” Participants evaluated the process of reshaping the international order, with discussions held on sessions titled “Building Strategic Autonomy: Türkiye and the Global Defense Paradigm,” “The Return of High-Risk Diplomacy: Middle Powers and the Rise of a Multipolar Order,” “Economic Fronts: Trade Conflicts and New Global Competitions,” and “Journalism on the Frontline: From Battlefield Risks to Algorithmic Suppression.”^【9】 

TRT World Forum 2025 – Session on “The Return of High-Risk Diplomacy: Middle Powers and the Rise of a Multipolar Order” (Anadolu Agency)

Organization and Structure

The overall coordination of the forum is managed by international events units within the General Directorate of TRT. The forum’s structure is based on a multi-layered organizational model designed to ensure professional, thematic, and participant-focused delivery. The executive and organizing committee is responsible for defining the theme, inviting speakers, designing the program agenda, and handling logistical arrangements. The academic and advisory board, composed of expert academics, think tank representatives, and journalists, establishes the intellectual framework and determines session topics. The event is broadcast live through TRT’s various channels and digital platforms, primarily TRT World, and all sessions are archived in report, analysis, and documentary formats after the event.

Mehmet Zahid Sobacı, Director General of TRT and Member of the TRT World Forum Board of Trustees (Anadolu Agency)

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of TRT World Forum comprises internationally recognized academics, politicians, and thought leaders.

• Mehmet Zahid Sobacı – Director General of TRT and Chairman of the Board of Trustees.^【10】 
• Francesco Rocca – President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).^【11】 
• Ivo Josipović – Former President of Croatia.^【12】 
• Rached Ghannouchi – Tunisian politician and leader of the Ennahda Movement.^【13】 
• Sayeeda Warsi – Member of the United Kingdom Conservative Party and former cabinet minister.^【14】 
• Volkan Bozkır – Former Minister of European Union Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye.^【15】 

Executive Team

The Executive Team is responsible for the operational and organizational processes of the forum, overseeing planning, content, and media coordination.

Members of the team include: Selin Burcu, Esra Öztürk, Aamer Rahman, Ayşegül Karagöz, Lamis Şeyh, Merve Kılıç, Muhammed Ali Gülmez, Mustafa Aykut Ersoy, Neslihan Yakut, Ömer Zengin, Sabri Eğe, Sena Erkan, Şeymanur Yönt, Osman Ali, and Ümmügülsüm Katmer.

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board was established to contribute to the intellectual framework of the forum, define thematic directions, and strengthen international connections. The board consists of academics, think tank representatives, and diplomats from various countries.

Members include: Anita Alban, Farid Şafiyev, François Burgat, Guo Changgang, Haroon Siddiqui, Javad Mottaghi, Javed Cabbar, Kılıç Buğra Kanat, Maha Azzam, Mukesh Kapila, Richard Falk, Salman Şeyh, Talip Küçükcan, Tarik M. Yousef, and Wang Yiwei.