GDF in the Press
The Global Diplomatic Forum has been covered by international broadcasters, national newspapers, specialist diplomatic press, and official government sources across more than a dozen countries. Below is a selection of confirmed coverage and institutional recognition.
PRESS COVERAGE
BBC Mundo · International broadcaster · February 2026 GDF founder and CEO Younes El-Ghazi was cited as an Asia specialist in reporting on China's global diplomatic strategy. BBC Mundo reaches over 40 million readers across Latin America and Spain.
Diplomatic Watch · Specialist diplomatic press · May 2025 Feature interview documenting GDF's programmes, its partnership with Johns Hopkins SAIS for the Washington D.C. edition of the Young Diplomats Forum, and its approach to youth diplomatic training.
Fiji Sun · National newspaper, Fiji · 2018 Editorial coverage of the 11th Young Diplomats Forum in Kuala Lumpur, reporting over 100 delegates from 75+ countries in attendance.
GTP Headlines · Greece · June 2015 Editorial coverage of the 5th Young Diplomats Forum in Athens, reporting 80 delegates from 65 countries and confirming institutional access to the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Parliament office in Athens, and the Athens Chamber of Commerce. The Athens edition was supported by the European Commission Representation in Greece.
MUNPlanet · Independent editorial Documented the history of the Young Diplomats Forum from its founding edition in Ankara 2013 through Zagreb 2016, providing an independent account of GDF's early growth across multiple countries.
ACADEMIC RECOGNITION
Harvard Kennedy School — Alumni notes documented graduate engagement with the GDF Youth Working Group.
Johns Hopkins SAIS — Partner institution for the 21st Young Diplomats Forum in Washington D.C., 2025.
Geneva Diplomacy Academy — Listed a Young Diplomats Forum London edition as a recognised programme.
University of Ljubljana — Hosted documentation of the founding 2013 Ankara edition on its academic domain.
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil — The university's International Relations Directorate listed the Young Diplomats Forum as a student opportunity, confirming participation from over 150 countries across all editions.
Springer Academic Publishers — GDF founder Younes El-Ghazi contributed a chapter on Transatlantic Relations to a peer-reviewed academic textbook on European Union security and defence (2021).
Regent's University London — Host venue for the 12th Career in International Affairs Forum. Regent's University also references GDF on its own website, noting that International Relations students have won scholarships to attend the Young Diplomats Forum.
GOVERNMENTAL & INSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION
Government of Flanders, Belgium The Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs confirmed hosting the Young Diplomats Forum in Brussels on its official government website, including sessions at the Flemish Parliament.
Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom The official website of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the UK documented a Belt and Road Initiative forum hosted for Young Diplomats Forum delegates in July 2018, attended by over 90 participants from more than 30 countries.
United Nations — UNISPAL GDF has been referenced in three separate UN documents: UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee documentation listing a GDF Advisory Board member; the UN PSVI Summit Report 2014, which lists GDF alongside Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch; and UN UNISPAL media monitoring of a GDF-hosted roundtable at the Houses of Parliament.
Diplo Foundation — London Diplomatic Summit listing · GDF actor profile The Diplo Foundation — established by the governments of Malta and Switzerland — listed the 3rd London Diplomatic Summit on its events platform, with a senior researcher speaking at the event, and maintains a dedicated actor profile for GDF.
For media enquiries, interview requests, or press accreditation for GDF events, please contact enquiries@gdforum.org