ISTANBUL
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday reaffirmed his country’s commitment to peace and dialogue, while condemning Israel’s actions in Palestine and outlining Türkiye’s role in global security.
“We once again declare that we prefer dialogue over conflict, common sense and global conscience over polarization,” Erdogan said in a speech at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, emphasizing Türkiye’s stance against division in the international community.
He also called for a broader, more inclusive approach to global governance, saying: “The world is bigger than five, because humanity is bigger than five,” in reference to the UN Security Council’s unrepresentative membership.
Erdogan further stressed Türkiye’s historical and ongoing connection to the region. “We are not just residents of this land; we are its rightful owners. We have been here for a thousand years, and God willing, we will be here for many more centuries to come.”
‘Stand with Palestinian people’
A significant portion of Erdogan’s address focused on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“For the past 1.5 years, Israel has been openly committing genocide against the Palestinian people, disregarding basic human rights and trampling on international law,” Erdogan said.
He described Israel as a “terrorist state” and denounced the international community’s silence. “Remaining silent in the face of Israel’s massacres is to be complicit in this crime,” he said.
Recalling Türkiye’s welcoming of the Jewish people centuries ago, the Turkish president said: “500 years ago, we welcomed the people of Israel, the Jews, who were expelled from their lands. What Türkiye was back then, it is the same today.”
He urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to take action and end the bloodshed, calling on them to “stand with the Palestinian people.”
Peace in Syria and Cyprus
Looking ahead, Erdogan discussed Türkiye’s broader regional ambitions, emphasizing efforts to foster peace and stability, particularly in Syria and Cyprus.
“We are striving to create a peace and security zone around our country by establishing good relations with neighbors and building bridges of dialogue between conflicting parties,” he explained.
“With the December 8th revolution, we cannot allow the opportunity to establish lasting stability in not only Syria but our entire region to be wasted.
“In Syria, no one should misunderstand our calmness or our approach to solving issues through dialogue. Our composure should not lead anyone to false ambitions,” he added.
The president also highlighted Türkiye’s ongoing engagement with key regional players, including US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, to preserve Syria’s territorial integrity.
On Cyprus, Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to the recognition of Turkish Cypriots’ rights.
“We have intensified our efforts to recognize the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people. We will continue this patiently until justice is served,” he said.
Ties with Russia
Speaking about relations with Russia, Erdogan said: “We are determined to advance our cooperation with Russia, with whom we share a common geography, on the basis of mutual interest and respect. Bringing the Russia-Ukraine War, now in its fourth year, to an end through a just and sustainable peace agreement remains our priority.”
We have taken many steps, including the Black Sea Initiative, prisoner exchanges, and the Istanbul Process. We hope to continue our balanced and proactive stance, which we have maintained since the very beginning, in the same manner,” he added.
Ready to be EU member
Erdogan issued a call for Türkiye’s full membership in the EU, emphasizing Türkiye’s pivotal role in European security.
“It has once again become clear that European security cannot be considered without Türkiye. Türkiye is ready to take responsibility for European security in the future as well,” he said.
“Türkiye should immediately regain its seat as a full member. We are ready and determined to advance our process, and we expect concrete steps from the EU.”
NATO
The president also highlighted NATO’s crucial role, calling it “one of the key pillars of Turkish foreign policy and our national security.”
“At a time when debates on NATO’s future and the European security architecture are on the agenda, it has once again become evident that European security cannot be envisioned without Türkiye,” Erdogan said.
“Commanding NATO’s second-largest land army, Türkiye is ready to continue taking responsibility for European security in the future, particularly through the major advancements it has made in its defense industry in recent years,” he added.
