Turkey has been invited to participate in the third Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security scheduled to take place October 28–29 in the Belarusian capital, Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing Belarus’s foreign ministry.
The invitation was extended during a meeting on Tuesday between Belarusian Ambassador to Turkey Anatoly Glaz, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexey Yerkhov and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Berris Ekinci, the ministry said in a statement.
“The Turkish side is invited to take an active part in this significant forum, which will be held in the Belarusian capital,” the ministry said.
According to the statement, the diplomats also discussed regional developments, international cooperation and joint initiatives aimed at promoting stability and security across Eurasia and globally.
Although Turkey is a founding member of NATO and is aligned with the West, it seeks to maintain strong economic and diplomatic ties with Russia, including energy cooperation and mediation roles during Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine.
The Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security is a diplomatic and defense forum launched by Belarus widely seen as supported by Russia and aligned with its regional strategy. It brings together senior officials, military experts and academics to discuss regional security architecture, military cooperation and responses to global threats.
Past sessions of the conference have focused on NATO expansion, multilateral defense initiatives and the impact of US and EU policies on Eurasian stability. The forum is widely viewed as a platform for non-Western security dialogue, particularly among countries critical of Western-led alliances.
The 2025 conference is expected to draw delegations from member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and countries in Central Asia and the Middle East.