Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sought to position his country as a point of stability in the increasingly stormy world, saying that Türkiye is necessary for European security.
Erdogan also said that Türkiye can overcome geopolitical divisions about Ukraine, Syria and the recent US tariff wave, which caused a world trade war.
The Turkish president, who performed at the annual diplomatic forum of Antalya, is faced with home riots from the protests against the arrest of his main political opponent, mayor of Istanbul Ekremoglu.
“Once again it became clear that European security is unthinkable without Turkey. Türkiye is ready to take responsibility for European security in the future, ”he said at the opening of a three-day meeting.
Since transatlantic relations are cool under the administration of Trump, Türkiye, a member of NATO, which has the second largest army of the Alliance and a well -developed defense industry, is looking for a broader role.
The White House warned that the continent should take care of his own security, including Ukraine, and still did not want to support mainly European forces in Ukraine in the face of Russian hostility.
Türkiye has become a fundamental mediator in the Black Sea region, maintaining relations with Ukraine and Russia. Erdogan and Trump spoke of their nearby personal relations.
“I believe that our relations with the United States will flourish in all areas during the second term of President Trump, as well as to the contribution of our close friendship with him,” the President of Turkey said to world leaders and diplomats.
As for Trump’s tariffs, Erdogan retained the possibility of a positive result for Turkey, which was placed in a basic level of 10%.
“We are doing our best to prevent illuminated commercial competition in customs tariffs, become destructive,” said Erdogan. “Türkiye will become one of the winners of this process.”
Türkiye is also an influential actor in neighboring Syria, since the rebel groups that they supported during the civil war seized power in December last year.
Nevertheless, the fall of the long-standing president of Bashar al-Asada was aggravated by the already tense relationship between Turkey and Israel, with their conflicting interests in order to push relationships to the possible path of a collision.
When Trump received the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington last month, he advised him to be “reasonable” in his relationship with Ankara.
Erdogan told the forum in Antalya: “We are in a state of close understanding and dialogue with influential actors in the region, especially with Trump and Putin, in maintaining the territorial integrity of Syria.”
The new President of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa sat only in two places from Erdogan.
In a clear warning, Erdogan said that “no one should misunderstand our cold head and our position to solve problems through dialogue.”
The President of Turkey, who criticizes Israeli military operations in Gaza, also focused on the death of civilians in the enclave.
“Even if it is in the war, is it a legal state, acting in this way? Is this not called state terrorism? That is why Israel is a terrorist state, ”said Erdogan.