Diplomatic tension during COP31 summit in Antalya

During the COP31 climate summit held in Antalya, Turkey, in mid-November 2026, a diplomatic incident occurred involving the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Upon the arrival of President Christodoulides, President Erdoğan notably vacated the reception area, leaving UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to welcome the Cypriot leader alone. Turkish media, including the newspaper Milliyet, described the gesture as a deliberate diplomatic message, characterizing the move as an attempt to ignore the Cypriot President, while pro-government outlets like Star labeled the act a sign of contempt.

Reports indicate that while international leaders were invited by the UNFCCC secretariat, Turkish figures Tufan Erhurman and Unal Ustel attended via personal invitations from President Erdoğan. The Cypriot government, through spokesperson Viktoras Papadopoulos, condemned the actions as a departure from diplomatic norms and an effort to undermine the Republic of Cyprus. Despite these symbolic maneuvers, President Christodoulides participated fully in the official proceedings of the global forum. The incident has drawn criticism for failing to adhere to expected diplomatic protocols during an international high-level summit.