📌 Key Highlights

• 51st Session of the D-8 Commission hosted by Türkiye under Egypt’s chairmanship.
• 29th Anniversary Reception hosted by Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Berris Ekinci.
• Egypt announced ratification of the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM).
• Preparations reviewed for the 12th D-8 Summit in Jakarta.
• High-level bilateral meetings with Fuat Oktay, TİKA President, and KOSGEB President.

ANKARA, JUN 20 /DNA/ – Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), undertook an official visit to Ankara from 15 to 17 June 2026 to participate in the 51st Session of the D-8 Commission and events commemorating the 29th Anniversary of the Establishment of D-8.

The 51st Session of the D-8 Commission, hosted by the Republic of Türkiye under the Chairmanship of the Arab Republic of Egypt, brought together Commissioners and senior representatives of all D-8 Member States to review progress achieved since the previous Session and chart the future direction of the Organization.

📋 51st D-8 Commission Session: Key Agenda Items

The Commission considered a comprehensive report presented by the Secretary-General on the activities of the Secretariat during the first half of 2026, highlighting significant progress in:

• Strengthening international partnerships and expanding sectoral cooperation
• Enhancing the visibility of the Organization
• Advancing initiatives in trade, energy, tourism, SMEs, agriculture, science and technology, youth, and connectivity

The Commission also reviewed:

• Preparations for the 12th D-8 Summit to be held in Jakarta
• Progress on measures for reform and institutional capacity-building
• Financial and administrative matters
• Implementation of the D-8 Decennial Roadmap 2020-2030

🛃 Breakthrough on Trade Integration

A significant development welcomed by the Commission was Egypt’s announcement regarding the ratification of the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and the Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM). This is expected to contribute to deeper economic integration and increased intra-D-8 trade among member states such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Türkiye, and new member Azerbaijan.

🎉 29th Anniversary Reception & Special Messages

A key highlight of the visit was the reception commemorating the 29th Anniversary of the Establishment of D-8 (15 June), hosted by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event was attended by Commissioners, Heads of Delegation, diplomats, senior government officials, representatives of international organizations, academia, business leaders, and members of the diplomatic community.

The reception was graciously hosted by Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Berris Ekinci. A special message from H.E. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was read out on the occasion.

“What began as a pioneering initiative among eight developing countries is now transforming into a dynamic trans-continental organization representing more than 1.28 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding USD 5.2 trillion.” – Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood

🗣️ Secretary-General’s Address: D-8’s Growing Relevance

Addressing the gathering, Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood paid tribute to the visionary leadership of the late Prime Minister Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan and reflected on the significant evolution of D-8 since its establishment in Istanbul in 1997.

The Secretary-General highlighted the growing strategic relevance of D-8 in an increasingly complex global environment — marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, climate crisis, technological disruption, and growing inequalities. He emphasized the Organization’s expanding role in promoting:

• South-South cooperation
• Economic integration and sustainable development
• Multilateral engagement

Recent achievements were underscored, including:

• The accession of Azerbaijan as the 9th Member State
• The successful convening of the first-ever Meeting of D-8 Ministers of Energy in Baku
• The D-8 High-Level Energy and Urban Dialogue held during the World Urban Forum in Baku
• Ongoing efforts to establish the D-8 Energy and Climate Center, D-8 Transport Excellence Center, and D-8 Media Excellence Center in Azerbaijan
• Expanding international engagement with the United Nations system, FAO, COMSTECH, COMSATS, OTS, and BSEC

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to working closely with Member States to build a stronger, more dynamic, and future-oriented D-8 capable of delivering tangible benefits to its peoples and contributing meaningfully to global peace, development, and prosperity.

🤝 High-Level Bilateral Consultations in Ankara

Meeting with Fuat Oktay, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee

On the sidelines of the Commission Session, the Secretary-General held high-level consultations with H.E. Fuat Oktay, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye and former Vice President of Türkiye. Discussions focused on regional and global developments, preparations for the 12th D-8 Summit, and opportunities for strengthening economic cooperation by building on existing complementarities.

Cooperation with TİKA – Development Assistance & Digital Transformation

The Secretary-General met with Mr. Abdullah Eren, President of TİKA, to explore new avenues of cooperation in development assistance, capacity-building, digital transformation, e-government, youth and women entrepreneurship, agriculture, education, and health. Both sides agreed to pursue the creation of a dedicated platform aimed at fostering collaboration among development agencies of Member States.

Partnership with KOSGEB – SMEs, Innovation & AI

In a separate meeting with Mr. Ahmet Serdar İbrahimcioğlu, President of KOSGEB, discussions centered on strengthening cooperation in support of SMEs, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence, technology development, and start-up ecosystems. Opportunities for capacity-building programmes, cooperation among innovation centers and Technoparks, and mechanisms to support SME financing and regional value-chain integration were explored.

📈 A Step Forward for D-8’s Broader Agenda

The 51st Session of the Commission was instrumental in advancing the broader D-8 agenda. Simultaneously, the Secretary-General’s interactions with the Parliamentary Committee Chairman and key senior officials in Ankara contributed to promoting practical cooperation initiatives in development, entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable economic growth across the D-8 region.

Swiss Foreign Ministry Confirms Role as Facilitator

BERN, JUN 20 – Switzerland continues to provide a discreet and reliable setting at Burgenstock to facilitate discussions on implementing a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, the Swiss foreign ministry said on Saturday.

In a brief statement, the ministry reaffirmed its long-standing role as a neutral mediator in international conflicts, particularly between Washington and Tehran. The talks at Burgenstock – a historic lakeside resort near Lucerne – are part of ongoing efforts to stabilize the implementation of the bilateral understanding reached earlier this year.

No Details on Participants or Content

The Swiss foreign ministry added that no further details would be disclosed about participants and the content of the talks, citing confidentiality. This tight-lipped approach aligns with Switzerland’s traditional policy of discretion in diplomatic mediation.

“Switzerland remains committed to offering a neutral ground for constructive dialogue,” the statement read. “All parties have agreed to keep the proceedings confidential to ensure progress.”

Why Burgenstock?

Burgenstock has hosted several high-profile diplomatic meetings in the past, including talks on nuclear non-proliferation and regional security. Its secluded location and neutral Swiss environment make it an ideal venue for sensitive negotiations between adversarial nations.

US-Iran Memorandum: What We Know

The memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran is believed to cover areas of mutual concern, including nuclear activities, sanctions relief, and prisoner exchanges. However, official details remain scarce due to the confidential nature of the discussions.

Analysts suggest that Swiss facilitation has been instrumental in keeping communication channels open between the two countries, especially in the absence of formal diplomatic relations.

Key Takeaways

• 🇨🇭 Switzerland is hosting US-Iran talks at Burgenstock.
• 🤝 The focus is on implementing a bilateral memorandum of understanding.
• 🔒 Both sides have agreed to confidentiality – no participant or content details will be released.
• 📅 Statement issued on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

Source: Reuters / Swiss Foreign Ministry Statement

WASHINGTON, JUN 19: US Vice President JD Vance is poised to take on his biggest role yet on the international stage as President Donald Trump’s chief negotiator to end the three-month war with Iran, a moment that could shape Vance’s prospects as a White House successor.

The two nations agreed to a provisional peace agreement on Wednesday that suspended hostilities but left core issues unresolved, deferring decisions on Iran’s nuclear program, its support for regional militant proxies and the economically vital Strait of Hormuz to 60 days of talks. The discussions are a high-risk scenario for all sides in the conflict, the broader Middle East, and for Vance’s political ambitions. And the situation remains fluid: Vance cancelled a planned Thursday night flight to Switzerland for the start of talks, though the White House said the US delegation is “prepared to depart at the first available opportunity.”

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The fast-moving developments coincide with the publication of Vance’s book on his conversion to Catholicism, “Communion,” and a media tour to promote it, during which he discussed his faith while positioning himself as the Iran deal’s top booster. The campaign-style push reached a crescendo on Thursday with a White House news conference where Vance laid out US hopes for a final peace deal and offered what some observers called one of the strongest rebukes of Israel in US history, while also swatting away a question about a potential presidential run.

“If the Iranians don’t change their behavior, their military and their nuclear program is still destroyed,” Vance said. “If they do change their behavior, then they are going to have a transformative relationship with the Middle East, and the Middle East will have a transformative relationship with the people of Iran.”

Fellow Republicans have underscored the significance of Vance’s high-profile role in the Iran deal.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a leader in the party’s foreign policy establishment, called Vance the “architect” of the peace agreement, and said the vice president should present a final deal to the Senate for approval.

Trump joked on Wednesday that Vance had little to gain and much to lose from this assignment.

“If it works out, I’m going to take the credit. If it doesn’t work out, I’m blaming JD!” the president chortled during a news conference at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France.

Representatives from Vance’s office declined to comment for this report.

Defending Trump
Trump ran for office promising lower prices and an end to what he called “forever wars” in the Middle East. Instead, inflation has accelerated, and he launched strikes on Iran on February 28. Some Republican allies have accused Trump of granting Tehran major concessions to alleviate the price pressures caused by the conflict.

While Trump has touted the provisional peace deal as a total military and diplomatic victory, it appears at this point to have advanced few of his goals from the outset of the war: Iran’s theocratic government remains in place, it retains ballistic missiles and a stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and it continues supporting anti-Israel militias such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Vance has had to defend the president’s decisions while trying to establish some distance from Trump’s falling approval ratings. He has attempted to do so by pointing to marginal economic improvements while declaring “there’s a lot more work to do.”

“Have a little bit of faith in the president of the United States. The idea that he is going to strike a deal that’s bad for the American people, it’s preposterous,” Vance said on Thursday.

He told conservative media host Megyn Kelly earlier in the week that he remained engaged on the Iran war because distancing himself from the effort would be “a very immature way to approach the political process,” while accusing hawkish conservatives of seeking to continue US attacks “until every bomb has been dropped, or until every Iranian is dead.”

Vance has cautioned against intensifying the war and advocated for Trump to pursue a diplomatic exit. He is one of the leaders of an ascendant wing of the Republican Party that hopes to restrain US global military pursuits.

He is not without critics.

“In my opinion, the vice president — the chief negotiator on this project — has not well served the president,” right-wing media figure Ben Shapiro said on Thursday on Fox News.

Trump appears to have elevated Vance as the face of the agreement rather than Secretary of State Marco Rubio — traditionally the country’s chief diplomat — triggering questions from administration allies about Rubio’s role in negotiations.

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, said no one on Trump’s team voiced opposition to the provisional peace deal. Rubio is also seen as a contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, though neither he nor Vance have said they plan to seek the presidency. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The move to promote Vance, though, is typical of the way Trump has managed cabinet officials in his second term, said one person close to the White House, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

“This back and forth is throwing people off, but Trump knows what he’s doing,” the person said. “He is literally conducting a tryout in real time.”

Throughout it all has been Vance’s book, which he has jokingly promoted in nearly every media engagement alongside discussion of the day’s news.

Facing a grilling about Iran, immigration and civil rights on ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday, the vice president quipped: “Let’s talk about the book — I’m here to sell books.”