President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, addressing the attendees of the Agriculture Ecosystem Meeting in İstanbul, stated that the Black Sea initiative, conducted with Türkiye's involvement, contributed to avert starvation in numerous regions, mainly in Africa.
"The Black Sea initiative, implemented through Türkiye's efforts, enabled us to avert starvation in numerous regions, mainly in Africa," the Turkish leader said, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
In his address, the Turkish President also touched upon the Western nations' colonial past and their actions on the African continent.
Erdoğan stated the following: "Finding a drop of oil more valuable than a drop of blood, the colonisers resorted to all means to ensure their dominance... We are well aware of what the Western countries that lecture us on human rights have done in Africa."
Erdoğan noted that tensions worldwide stem from disputes over depleting water resources and climate change, and that comparable developments are occurring in nations across Asia, the Americas, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Erdoğan said, "As a result of the negative effects of climate change, dams and water resources are becoming a flashpoint for conflict."