With just a few days for the G20 summit to begin in Antalya, Cumhuriyet daily published an article claiming that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's request to hold a meeting regarding regional terrorism and the refugee crisis was received poorly by some G20 members. The Foreign Ministry responded with a firmly worded statement accusing the paper of inaccurate reporting and emphasizing that the claims were baseless. In a press briefing last October, Turkey's G20 sherpa ambassador and deputy to the Foreign Ministry undersecretary, Ayşe Sinirlioğlu, said the G20 agenda would cover issues of inclusiveness, the implementation of international programs, combating terrorism and the ongoing refugee crisis.

According to the article penned by Cumhuriyet reporter Duygu Güvenç, President Erdoğan's request to discuss terrorism and refugee crisis was objected to by some leaders. The journalist claimed that some leaders said they did not perceive the matters as relevant or crucial. However, the Foreign Ministry stated that the sessions on combating terrorism and refugee crisis have already been added to the agenda. Moreover, the ministry spokesperson said all G20 leaders have expressed their support and that there were no objections regarding the agenda set forth by Erdoğan.

The ongoing Syrian civil war and airstrikes led by both Russian warplanes as well as the Assad regime will be discussed at the summit, as will the influx of refugees fleeing to neighboring and EU countries. There have also been intense diplomatic contacts made between Turkey and EU leaders, as the EU recently announced a new plan regarding the refugee problem. While the refugee crisis is becoming a global issue, increasing terror has been threatening not only Turkey but also other Western countries.