The latest stop in the “Stratcom Public Forum” panel series, organised by the Directorate of Communications in leading global centres, was Rome, the capital of Italy.
Held under the theme “A Fairer World is Possible,” the event in Rome attracted significant interest from academics, journalists, politicians, and diplomats. The discussions focused on the challenges within the international system while emphasising the necessity of a sustainable and just world order.
The event featured an opening speech by the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Rome, Ömer Gücük, followed by the screening of a “Stratcom Public Forum” themed video. Additionally, a special video message from the Presidency's Head of Communications, Prof Fahrettin Altun, was shared with the panel audience.
The panel was moderated by freelance journalist Murat Pazarbaşı and included prominent speakers such as Carlo Marsili, Former Italian Ambassador to Ankara; Valeria Giannotta, Türkiye Observatory Scientific Director CeSPI; Massimo Khairallah, Director of International Relations at the Med-Or Foundation; Prof. Marina Mancini, Faculty Member at Reggio Calabria Mediterranean University.
In his opening speech, Ambassador Ömer Gücük expressed his belief that the “A Fairer World is Possible” panel would contribute to international discussions on pressing global issues through the diverse perspectives of esteemed speakers. He emphasised that the international community must strive for a more just world order and reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to addressing global challenges through an active and multidimensional foreign policy. Highlighting the need for reform as a key agenda of the panel, Gücük also acknowledged Italy’s constructive role in fostering a fair and effective global order through its state institutions and civil society. He noted that Türkiye and Italy would continue their strategic and friendly cooperation on a principled and humanitarian basis, further strengthening people-to-people engagement in various fields.
Moderator Murat Pazarbaşı emphasised the necessity of moving beyond the status quo under the theme “A Fairer World is Possible.” He underlined the need to find alternative methods of cooperation beyond the United Nations (UN) and stressed the importance of reactive responses. He also highlighted the need to make the dysfunctional existing structure operational through international organisations and highlighted the EU’s role in addressing global challenges within the international order. He stressed the need for greater dialogue to enhance the effectiveness of international organisations.
In the first speech, Prof Marina Mancini pointed out that the current crisis of multilateralism stems from the inability of countries with common goals to unite. She stressed the importance of exploring new forms of collaboration beyond the UN. Mancini stated that Türkiye and Italy have fulfilled their responsibilities in addressing global crises, remained deeply committed to the principle of multilateralism, and demonstrated a firm stance against global conflicts. Mancini also criticised the UN’s failure to address Israel’s unlawful occupation of Gaza, labelling Israel’s actions in southern Gaza as crimes against humanity.
Massimo Khairallah noted that international crises are not new, but the capacity to produce solutions has significantly declined over time. He stated that, based on the latest statements from the U.S. President, the UN has proven to be ineffective in influencing the United States. Addressing the inconsistencies of US foreign policy under Trump, Khairallah highlighted that Türkiye and Italy could collaborate on various issues and emphasised Türkiye’s strong role in its region. Khairallah emphasised the importance of Türkiye being actively involved as a key actor in the resolution of regional issues.
Valeria Giannotta stated that today’s threats are no longer traditional threats like terrorism but rather hybrid in nature. She mentioned that there is no concept of a joint European army, but Trump’s presidency reignited discussions on the topic. Giannotta emphasised that while Türkiye is not an EU member, it has always been a close ally and that EU-Türkiye relations are more critical than ever.
She also highlighted Türkiye and President Erdoğan’s mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine. Giannotta stated that Türkiye has maintained a clear stance on the Gaza issue from the very beginning. She added that an increasing number of EU countries are becoming aware of the situation in Gaza, largely due to Türkiye’s efforts and the influence of Turkish media.
Carlo Marsili stressed the difficult state of international relations and the urgent need to address global challenges. He underscored the value of such forums in fostering dialogue among nations. He stated that the universal values produced by the Western world are Eurocentric, which has led to various problems in today's global landscape. Additionally, he referenced a speech by the US Vice President at the Munich Security Conference, where it was acknowledged that during Trump’s presidency, the EU was left alone.
As part of the Stratcom Public Forum in Rome, a roundtable discussion titled “A Fairer World is Possible” was held, where participants analysed international crises, global challenges, and potential solutions.
A photo exhibition titled "Century of Türkiye" was organised as part of the Stratcom Public Forum panel series, which focused on the theme "A Fairer World Is Possible." Additionally, a documentary was screened, chronicling the life of painter Devrim Erbil, which spanned over 60 years. Numerous guests attended the screening.