Europe's security unimaginable without Türkiye: Erdoğan
ANKARA
Recent global developments have clearly exposed the importance of close and strategic ties between Türkiye and Europe, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, underlining that the latter’s security will be incomplete if it does not include Türkiye.
“It is becoming increasingly impossible for Europe, which does not include Türkiye as it deserves, to continue its presence as a global actor. To put it plainly, establishing European security in the absence of Türkiye is inconceivable,” Erdoğan told in his address to the foreign ambassadors during the iftar dinner on late March 3.
“We expect our European friends to face this reality and move forward with our full membership process with a visionary perspective.”
Erdoğan’s statements follow an unprecedented divide between the United States and Europe after Donald Trump came to power in January. The U.S. decision to normalize ties with Russia and abandon its military support to Ukraine has created deep concerns among European nations over how to keep the continent’s security.
Ankara sees an opportunity to strengthen ties with Europe as Erdoğan repeated that joining the EU is still Türkiye’s strategic priority. “As an inseparable part of Europe, we see our membership process in the European Union as our strategic priority. Recent developments have once again demonstrated the importance of the relations between Türkiye and the European Union,” he stated.
Russia, Ukraine must be at peace table
On the efforts to make peace between Russia and Ukraine, Erdoğan repeated Türkiye’s readiness “to provide all sorts of support including hosting the negotiations.”
“We maintain our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also believing that a solution cannot be achieved by excluding Russia or Ukraine. We have been striving to find a solution to the crisis since day one, refraining from adding fuel to the fire,” he stressed.
On Israel’s aggression against the Palestinians, Erdoğan criticized the Israeli government for trying to break the truce between Israel and Hamas.
“Hopes that rekindled with the temporary ceasefire has started to wane yet again because of Israel’s spoiled actions disregarding law. The Netanyahu administration is exploring every method to exploit the already fragile ceasefire agreement,” he stated.
Producing instability will not bring security to Israel, Erdoğan stated, “Israel will not find the peace it seeks without the establishment of an independent and State of Palestine that preserves its territorial integrity.”
Erdoğan expressed his views also on Syria as there is a new administration in the country after the fall of the Assad rule in December.
“Our biggest desire is the reconstruction of a Syria with territorial integrity and political unity where different identities live together peacefully and which is a source of security and stability for all of its neighbors. Appreciating the new administration’s efforts for the formation of such a Syria, we provide them with all the necessary support,” he stated.
Muslims must be represented at UN Security Council
Erdoğan reiterated his criticisms on the structure of the U.N. Security Council, under the motto “the world is bigger than five,” referring to five permanent UNSC members.
“Let me once again express it openly that it is high time for global decision-making mechanisms to adapt to the changing dynamics of the world. Muslims, who make up a quarter of the world’s population, need to be represented in decision-making processes as they deserve so,” he stated.
