President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke to journalists and answered their questions on the plane after completing his talks in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, where he visited to attend the BRICS Summit.
Wishing Allah's mercy upon the martyrs and a speedy recovery to those wounded in the terrorist attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), President Erdoğan said, "I wish 'get well soon' to the TAI family, who work for the peace, security, and defence of Türkiye, and to our august nation. Two terrorists, one of them female, who carried out the heinous attack, were captured dead. The attacks have been retaliated exponentially as from last night."
Stating that the comprehensive efforts of intelligence and security units are underway in addition to the judicial investigation into the attack, President Erdoğan remarked, "We will continue with our counter-terrorism efforts by deploying all the opportunities at our disposal in a multidimensional manner." We will definitely achieve our target of building a bright, peaceful, and safe Türkiye that is utterly freed from the dark and bloody shadow of terrorism. Our defence industry will hopefully be the flagship of these efforts. We will work more, produce more, in defiance of the traitors. We will further disturb those who are not comfortable with a growing, strengthening Türkiye, bravely objecting to unfairness and injustice."
Recalling that they had completed their visit to Kazan, where they travelled to attend the BRICS Summit on the invitation of President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Erdoğan continued as follows:
"During the leaders' expanded session, I articulated our attitude regarding global, political, and economic matters, focusing mainly on Israel's hostility in the Middle East. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to engage in bilateral talks with other leaders attending the summit, in particular with the host, Mr. Putin. In this framework, we met with President Maduro of Venezuela, President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam, and President Sassou Nguesso of Congo. I also had tête-à-tête meetings with other leaders.
During these talks, I asked for support for our efforts on different platforms, especially in the United Nations, to stop Israel as soon as possible. We discussed what could be done in relation to developing our relations with the BRICS based on mutual respect and a win-win approach. The BRICS countries, most of which are G20 members like us, cover about 30 per cent of the world's surface area and 45 per cent of its population. BRICS countries account for 40 per cent of global oil production, 25 per cent of goods exports and 2/5 of trade."
"Our heroes have defended the bright future of Türkiye at the cost of their lives."
President Erdoğan stated that the data he conveyed is enough to indicate the significance of the BRICS platform in economic terms, and he added, "Türkiye, in line with its interests, wishes to further its cooperation with BRICS in the near future. With these remarks, I hope that our visits and contacts will be auspicious. Now, I would like to hear from you."
In response to a question on the possible foreign root of the terrorist attack on TAI due to the BRICS meeting and the membership application and the allegations about Israeli involvement in the attack, President Erdoğan stated the following:
"The terrorist attack on such a distinguished organisation as TAI has a significant connotation. Because terrorists targeted not only an organisation but also the peace and security of Türkiye. Our heroes have defended TAI, the bright future of Türkiye, at the cost of their lives. Unfortunately, this heinous attack martyred five people and injured many. I extend my deepest condolences. I wish all those injured a speedy recovery. Our efforts to combat these bloodthirsty murderers will never cease as we continue to lead our country to a prosperous future without wavering in our determination. In fact, the Director of our National Intelligence Organisation, İbrahim Kalın, returned to Ankara immediately following the attack last night and personally followed the developments at the scene of the incident.
We continued to monitor the developments in Tatarstan. Our Minister of National Defence, Yaşar Güler, who was in İstanbul, promptly departed for Ankara. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, who was in Ankara, immediately became involved with the incident. All our security forces immediately intervened and neutralised the female terrorist who carried out the attack in a very short time. The other terrorist committed suicide, as you know. We now know that this terrorist attack was the result of an infiltration from Syria. Operations were carried out at 40 different locations throughout the night. The terrorists undoubtedly paid a heavy price as a result of these operations."
"Our goal is a Türkiye without terrorism"
A journalist' enquired, asking, "Türkiye has made significant progress in its fight against terrorism. How will the fight against terrorism proceed from now on? You have stated in the past, 'Let us build a Türkiye without terrorism.' How do you plan to make this happen?" President Erdoğan responded:
"We will make no concessions in our fight against terrorism. Our fight will continue with full determination, as will our policy of eliminating terrorism at its source. And we can never compromise on this. We have devised a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism, which covers political and social causes of terrorism to financial resources and foreign aid." We will continue this strategy in a multidimensional and more comprehensive way. I want it to be known that terrorists are puppets, nothing more than subcontractors. Our goal is a Türkiye without terrorism. We will not and cannot compromise on this. Our goal is a fully independent, united, and prosperous Türkiye.
It is without doubt that our current government puts its words into action. We continue our efforts to completely eradicate terrorism at its source. So, is the source of this in Syria? Yes, it is. Then, whatever the source is, we will do whatever it takes to get rid of it, just like we did last night. We will continue on our path with the same determination in the oncoming period. We have to clean the seeds of discord scattered in our unity, weed out these poisonous plants and guide this homeland, which belongs to all of us, to a bright future in solidarity and we will certainly achieve this. And we can never compromise on this. These developments in our region have once again revealed this truth to us. We continue on our way with determination towards the ideal of a Türkiye that embraces, not divides."
As a response to the question, "How is the fight against the PYD/YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK? The debate on the US withdrawal from the region has been going on for a long time. If such a thing happens, the PKK will be left without patronage in Syria and will be dissolved. What are your thoughts on this matter?" President Erdoğan stated, "The PYD/YPG, the Syrian branch of the terrorist organisation PKK, is especially doomed to be abandoned and left alone. America will carry this terrorist organisation in its embrace for a while, but when that time is up, it will have to leave them to fend for themselves. The terrorist organisation's efforts to gain the patronage of some Western countries by taking advantage of the instability in Syria are futile. It will not continue forever."
Stating that the discussions on America's withdrawal from the region have been going on for a long time, President Erdoğan said the following:
"It has already become clear with the prolonged discussions that the withdrawal will be tactical rather than strategic. It is a well-known fact that the US uses terrorist organisations in the region for its own interests and Israel's security. Does the US support Israel in the region with all kinds of tools, equipment, and ammunition? It does. Does the US support Israel financially? It does. Our eyes and ears are open to all the developments taking place next to our territory, and we cannot compromise on these either. We will be the protectors of our own lands; we will be their patrons. We always have to be on guard against any infiltration from Syria, or anywhere else for that matter, at any time. Therefore, we have to take measures for our security accordingly. In order to safeguard our national interests and the security of our borders, we maintain our fight against all terrorist organisations in the region. We will continue to do so."
"We seek to improve our relations with BRICS"
"There was a change of direction debate and a question mark after Türkiye's application for membership to BRICS was announced to the public," President Erdoğan stated. You also emphasised in your previous statements that 'the desire to join BRICS is not an alternative to NATO'. How would you evaluate Türkiye's position after the Kazan Summit? Upon the question, "What are the results of the Kazan Summit for Türkiye?" he emphasised that BRICS is a big platform where emerging economies come together.
Stating that Türkiye has to see this reality, President Erdoğan said, "As Türkiye, we want to improve our relations with BRICS. We already have long-standing bilateral relations and cooperation with member countries of BRICS. BRICS and other platforms, as well as international organisations, have helped to strengthen our economy. We cannot ignore these facts."
Stating that they have always explained that Türkiye is both an Eastern and Western country, President Erdoğan continued:
"On a 'win-win' perspective, it is in the best interest of both our country and the BRICS countries for Türkiye to expand its economic partnerships and maintain this solidarity within the framework of mutual respect. The bilateral meetings we have held, especially with President Putin as the chairman for 2024, have made this quite evident. We must hold on to this understanding despite the suggestions of others. We will proceed by making our own choices."
"Trade in national currencies is free trade"
"An 'alternative financial system' was discussed at the BRICS Summit. We know your opinions on this issue. Donald Trump, the US Presidential candidate, has recently threatened to 'impose a 100 per cent tax on the goods of countries that stop using the dollar as a reserve currency'. President Erdoğan answered the question, "In this case, is it possible to implement an alternative financial system to the existing one?" and said that the aim was not to make the existing ones compete with each other.
"We should keep moving forward with our local and national currencies," said President Erdoğan and continued:
"Mr. Trump served as the President of the United States. He might hold this perspective. During his tenure, we discussed all matters concerning the financial sector with him. We shared these with him. Why did they not intervene back then? We can move forward with this viewpoint with any nation that utilises its own domestic and national currencies. Our aim here is to revive the financial sector on a 'win-win' basis. If all nations, whether America or the Western nations, move in harmony, both we and they will win, as will America. For years, we have been promoting the policy of trading in national currencies. This would liberate bilateral trade from the constraints of foreign currency. It serves to prevent other nations from interfering with the commercial operations of other countries. Trade in national currencies is free trade at the same time. Similarly, the lack of diversity in payment systems makes financial markets more vulnerable to shocks. An alternative financial and payment system would, therefore, both facilitate and diversify international trade."
"Western countries feel in debt to Israel"
Upon the question, "Except for Italy, Spain and some other countries, we are observing that the West remains silent to the genocide in Gaza and massacre in Lebanon committed by Israel. How were the approaches of other countries during the bilateral meetings at the BRICS Summit? What do they think about this issue, and at what point do they differ from the West?" President Erdoğan emphasised that the countries supporting Palestine are determined in their support, and they do not compromise on this matter.
"We are determined to continue this solidarity with countries such as Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia in the future," President Erdoğan said, emphasising that they will gain further strength if they take steps together.
Pointing out that the Western countries feel in debt to Israel, President Erdoğan noted the following:
"Germany, for example, deems itself accountable to Israel for what happened during the Nazi period. Some other Western countries share this attitude. Since they had been silent about what the Nazi administration did to the Jews in Europe at that time, they now remain silent and unresponsive to the genocide committed by Israel as a way of paying their debt. So, the West is, in a sense, trying to pay off one debt with another. However, they are now in debt to Palestinians. By backing Israel, which has become the Nazis of our time, they are passing on a shameful history to the next generations. We are expecting the BRICS members to put more support in the just cause of Palestine and Lebanon, which is targeted by Israel, and loudly say 'stop' to Israel's aggression."
Reminded of his endeavours at the United Nations (UN) to stop arms sales to Israel and upon the question of whether there is a development at the point of bringing together like-minded countries concerning the implementation of an alliance policy on this issue in İstanbul, President Erdoğan said, "It is imperative we block the access to weapons in order to stop Israel and avert them from murdering babies, children, mothers, and fathers. Currently, many countries, particularly the United States and Germany, are regrettably assisting Israel in perpetuating its massacres with the weapons they provide. We have launched an initiative under the auspices of the United Nations to resolve this issue and to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel. The number of its supporters is increasing every day. We hope that as the 'Alliance of Humanity', we will succeed in this initiative and pave the way for enduring peace. We are making every effort to put out this fire despite those blowing the coals, and we will continue to do so."
Noting that the call for an arms embargo against Israel, endorsed by nations including Italy, Spain, Ireland, and France, indicates that the issue is gaining prominence on the agenda, President Erdoğan said, "This implies that the heedless and disproportionate use of force by Israel is a source of concern not only for us but also numerous other countries; however, nations must now speak out more strongly on human rights and international law, with Türkiye in the forefront. We must halt this terrorist state that poses a threat to humanity, taking all necessary measures to strengthen the diplomatic ground, foster alternative perspectives, and heighten international pressure."
"I hope we will establish Türkiye-Syria normalisation in the upcoming period"
In response to a question on whether any new developments could be expected after his meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia regarding a meeting with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, President Erdoğan said that from the outset of the process, they have advocated for the preservation of Syria's territorial integrity and the establishment of enduring, equitable, and inclusive peace and tranquillity in their neighbour.
President Erdoğan remarked that their position contributes to the understanding of combating terrorist organisations indiscriminately, alongside protecting the borders, and went on to say, "Our region has turned into a ring of fire, and unfortunately, it is getting narrower by the day. Our main expectation is that the Syrian administration recognises the advantages that a genuine and realistic normalisation with Türkiye will offer and takes its steps accordingly. I hope we witness a constructive advancement in this regard and establish Türkiye-Syria normalisation in the upcoming period. The instability in that region has attracted terrorist groups and those with dirty ambitions, much like a swamp attracts flies. The sole method to disperse them is to drain the swamp and transform it into a rose garden."
Pointing out Russia's well-known influence on the Syrian administration, President Erdoğan said, "We deliberated on all these matters, our position, and our expectations with Mr Putin. We urged Mr Putin to take steps to ensure that Bashar al-Assad would respond to our call. Would Mr Putin call on Assad to take this step? We leave that to time."
"We hope it will not take too long"
In response to the question, "You hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. There were expectations that the arms embargo against Türkiye would be lifted. Will the sale of the Eurofighter be allowed? He did not provide a clear answer. Did you receive any explicit guarantees from him? What is your impression?" President Erdoğan said:
"In our bilateral meeting with him, we saw that positive steps could be taken on the Eurofighter issue and that both the UK and Germany are favourable toward this deal. From this moment on, our relevant ministers will resume their negotiations. The issue is not limited to Eurofighter. It includes the purchase of parts and machinery across various areas related to the Naval, Land, and Air Forces as well. We noted his positive approach during the bilateral meeting. Thanks to the steps we have taken in the defence industry, we can largely meet our needs independently. However, we still need time for certain items. And we seek to obtain these items primarily from our allies. Time will tell when this process will be completed and when we will reach the stage of procurement of the aircraft. We hope it will not take too long."
"We have observed that Mr Putin is seeking a permanent ceasefire"
In response to the question, "Did you observe a willingness in Putin to end this war?" regarding their meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia and the Russian delegation, President Erdoğan said, "We have observed that Mr Putin is seeking a permanent ceasefire, as was the case in my meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine at the Türkevi in the USA. This has already been confirmed by our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, during their meeting in Istanbul. In addition to the revitalisation of the Black Sea Grain Corridor and mine sweeping, we noted expectations regarding prisoner swaps during our meeting with Mr Putin and his delegation last night. Currently, we are closely observing the steps regarding these prisoner swaps."
President Erdoğan emphasised that they will continue to do their utmost to resolve the issues through diplomacy and said, "Our desire is to initiate peace negotiations between the two countries as soon as possible and pave the way for an auspicious outcome. We will continue to work tirelessly to achieve this. We persist in stressing that there are no winners in war and no losers in peace. This war will eventually come to an end, and we hope it does so without further deaths or suffering."
"Now that we have named it the Steel Dome, we will also set its schedule"
Upon the question, "During your meeting with Putin yesterday, was there any mention of joint action regarding the new phase of the S-400 and especially the Steel Dome Air Defence Systems that Türkiye has begun to deploy?" President Erdoğan said that the Iron Dome and Türkiye's Steel Dome project should not be mistaken for one another.
President Erdoğan remarked that the S-400 issue is a different initiative and added:
"We have no concerns regarding what others might say about the next phase of the S-400. We, as the government of the Republic of Türkiye, will make that decision. The government will convene, assess the situation, and come to a decision on this matter, but as previously mentioned, we have referred to it as the Steel Dome. Now that we have named it the Steel Dome, we will also set its schedule. When the moment arrives, we will proceed with this action alongside the defence sector. What are the views of Türkiye's opposition parties or dissidents on this matter? The opposition erupted over the budget issue. 'Why do you take money from here? Why do you take money from there?' they said. We acquire our own resources, and once we have them, we take action. The government of the Republic of Türkiye has no difficulty in providing resources. When the time comes, it will step forward, generate resources and build its Steel Dome. Our top priority here is to ensure that our own needs are completely met. Just as we have gradually reached this point in the defence industry, we will continue to take firm steps towards our future goals."
"We are expecting a visit from China soon"
On the question about the state of relations with China and their future trajectory, President Erdoğan stated the following:
"We have had long-standing ties with China. We are the descendants of two great civilisations that evolved by influencing one another. We base our relationships on these ties and strive to form new, deep-rooted connections. China is a major player in global politics and trade. We can take new steps to elevate our relationships to the level of strategic partnership. We occasionally discuss a variety of topics with our Chinese friends, ranging from increased bilateral trade volume to investment opportunities. We are expecting a visit from China soon. After that, we will pay a return visit. I think this will not take a very long time. President Xi Jinping of China will pay a visit to us and then we will pay a visit to them."