Prof Umut Uzer actively participated in two significant international events organized by the prestigious Valdai Discussion Club in early 2026. On January 16, 2026, Uzer contributed to the session titled "Turkey in the Context of Transforming International Relations and the New Eurasian Geopolitics," offering valuable academic perspectives on Turkey's evolving regional strategies. Following this, on February 9-10, 2026, Uzer attended the "15th Middle East Conference" held in Moscow, Russia. These participations highlight our department's strong engagement in global diplomatic and academic dialogues. By representing our institution at the Valdai Discussion Club, Prof Uzer elevated the international visibility of our faculty and fostered essential academic exchanges concerning Middle Eastern and Eurasian geopolitics.

In early 2026, our department continued to expand its international academic footprint through the active participation of Prof. Dr. Umut Uzer in the highly esteemed Valdai Discussion Club events. The Valdai Discussion Club is recognized globally as a premier platform for the interaction of leading experts, policymakers and academics. Prof. Uzer represented our department in two important sessions, contributing significantly to the ongoing global discourse on Eurasian and Middle Eastern geopolitics.
The first event took place on January 16, 2026. Prof. Dr. Umut Uzer participated in a discussion titled “Turkey in the Context of Transforming International Relations and the New Eurasian Geopolitics.” During the session, Prof. Uzer presented an in-depth analysis of Türkiye’s multidimensional foreign policy, emphasizing its strategic balancing act between traditional Western alliances and emerging Eurasian partnerships (such as the OTS and BRICS). His discourse focused on Türkiye’s role as a regional energy and trade hub, Karadeniz security dynamics, and its pragmatic diplomatic engagement with key Eurasian actors.
Prof. Uzer subsequently attended the Valdai Middle East Conference in Moscow. Engaging in high-level discussions on Middle Eastern security and regional stability, Prof. Uzer addressed critical topics including the Gaza conflict, the necessity of a two-state solution, and Türkiye’s proposed guarantorship framework. His contributions also highlighted the impact of regional normalization trends and the evolving security architecture in the Middle East amidst shifting global power balances.