COP 31 Summit Opens in Antalya, Turkey
Leaders from Armenia and Azerbaijan are among the participants at the UN climate conference's state summit hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in International Relations
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The UN climate conference COP 31 kicked off in Antalya, Turkey, with a summit of state leaders hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The UN Secretary-General is welcoming high-ranking guests, including the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Why it matters
The presence of both Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders at the same international gathering brings the two countries into proximity in a multilateral setting. Prime Minister Pashinyan's office has announced bilateral meetings with foreign partners but has not specified whether a meeting with Erdoğan or Azerbaijan's Aliyev will take place.
Turkey was represented by its Minister of Agriculture at the UN biodiversity COP17 held in Yerevan in October, while President Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan did not attend. Whether Turkey's top leadership will hold talks with Armenian or Azerbaijani counterparts at COP 31 remains unannounced.
The players
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
President of Turkey, who is hosting the COP 31 summit of state leaders in Antalya and has led Turkey's government since 2014 after serving as prime minister.
Nikol Pashinyan
Prime Minister of Armenia, whose office has announced bilateral meetings with foreign partners during the Antalya summit.
The details
The COP 31 leaders' summit is taking place within the framework of the UN climate conference, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosting state leaders in Antalya. Bilateral meetings with foreign partners are planned on the sidelines, according to Prime Minister Pashinyan's office.
Timeline
October 2026: Turkey sent its Agriculture Minister to the UN biodiversity COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, while Erdoğan and Fidan did not attend.
November 11, 2026: The COP 31 leaders' summit begins in Antalya, Turkey.
Diplomatic Thread
Turkey's decision to send only its Agriculture Minister to the October 2026 UN biodiversity COP17 in Yerevan, while Erdoğan and Fidan stayed away, set a precedent of limited top-level engagement at Armenian-hosted multilateral events. The Antalya leaders' summit will show whether Ankara's presence at the COP 31 level marks a departure from that pattern.
Readers following climate policy should watch the COP 31 agenda and any announced Erdoğan, Pashinyan, or Aliyev meetings in Antalya, since outcomes there can shape national emissions commitments. The summit's bilateral schedule remains the clearest indicator of whether regional diplomacy will move beyond the sidelines of the climate talks.
The takeaway
Multilateral climate summits often become venues for quieter diplomacy, and the COP 31 gathering in Antalya may reveal whether Turkey's engagement with Armenia and Azerbaijan is expanding. Watch the bilateral meeting announcements for early signals.
Further reading
For broader context on diplomacy between states, explore our International Relations coverage.
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