Türkiye is not backing away from the West as it seeks deeper ties with the East, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Wednesday as he headed back from a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
In comments made to journalists aboard the presidential plane, Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye's goal of becoming a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO, whose ten current members include Russia, China, India and Iran.
“I would also like to particularly emphasize that Türkiye's membership perspective in the organization does not mean a break from a bloc or turning our backs on the West,” the president said.
He also underlined the importance of maritime security in the Black Sea, where civilian shipping has come under increasing attack.
“There is a need for a mechanism that will permanently ensure the safety of commercial maritime transport in the Black Sea,” Erdogan said, adding that it would be “beneficial” to prevent a “resurgence of the grain crisis.”