Panelists speak during the "Critical Raw Materials in the Age of Competition" session held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, in Antalya, Turkiye on April 12, 2025.
Panel addresses geopolitical, economic, strategic importance of underground resources
Sercan Irkin and Zehra Nur Celik |13.04.2025 – Update : 13.04.2025
ANTALYA, Türkiye
The “Critical Raw Materials in the Age of Competition” panel was held Saturday as part of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
It addressed the geopolitical, economic, and strategic importance of underground resources, their role in the global competitive environment and their effect on energy transition.
Moderated by TRT World presenter Isobel Ewing, the panel featured Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Eduardo Gil Pinto, Botswana’s Minister of International Relations Phenyo Butale and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ayse Berris Ekinci as speakers.
Pinto said Venezuela has long been heavily dependent on the US in terms of industry and related materials, but the supply chain is unsafe for Venezuela and the world, as currently observed more strongly.
He highlighted that Venezuela has begun developing new strategic alliances with China, Brazil and Mexico, emphasizing the importance of creating multipolar supply chains, such as BRICS.
Dr Butale said: “Botswana was amongst the poorest countries in the world,” but today, thanks to valuable minerals, especially diamonds, it has risen to a middle-income status.
“When you buy a diamond in Botswana, you are not only buying a luxury product, you are enabling students to go up to PhD, as I have, you are enabling an old poor woman in a village, as to good health and good amenities,” Butale said.
Ekinci, for her part, emphasized that the Russia-Ukraine War and global geopolitical fractures have made unfettered access to natural resources not just a technical issue but a strategic and national security concern.
“For all nations, including Türkiye, securing a stable, sustainable and diversified supply of critical raw materials is no longer a technical issue, but it has become a strategic issue as well as has become a part of national security,” she said.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/search/?s=Antalya+Diplomacy+Forum&tag=1
About the Forum:
The 4th edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025), hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, under the auspices of H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, took place on 11-13 April 2025, in Antalya, Türkiye.
This year’s theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World” reflects the pressing need for diplomacy to reassert itself as a stabilizing force, amid rising global divisions.
Growing geopolitical rifts, deepening global inequalities, surge in violence targeting civilians, intolerance towards divergent views, uncertainties driven by technological disruptions and multidimensional impact of climate crisis have all shaken common sense of justice and eroded trust in international institutions.
The inability of the current international system to find solutions to these contemporary challenges has further strained the already struggling cooperation efforts.
In an era of heightened instability and unpredictability, marked by complex challenges and multiple crises, the Antalya Diplomacy Forum aims to evaluate the systemic problems of the multilateral order and foster dialogue on reclaiming diplomacy in a rapidly evolving international environment.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum gathers global leaders, policymakers, academics, business experts and as well as representatives of media and civil society to explore how diplomacy can turn the tide and navigate us through a fragmented world to find a common ground for collective action.
The Forum aims to inspire dialogue to redefine the role and core principles of diplomacy in an increasingly polarized atmosphere.
By discussing root causes of various problems, the Forum encourages policymakers to reconsider how diplomacy can manage these turbulent times, with a focus on innovative tools for conflict resolution, mediation strategies and regional cooperation mechanisms.
To help create a more effective and cohesive international system, the Forum looks for new solutions to address the failures of global governance, by examining the dysfunction and lack of trust in international organisations.
The role of non-governmental stakeholders complementing traditional diplomatic efforts is also elaborated to discover how diplomacy can become more inclusive, adaptable and resilient.
The Forum provides a forward-thinking platform for participants from all around the world to work on joint strategies to make diplomacy the driving force for peace and cooperation.
Please visit for further information at the official website:
