President Erdoğan stated: "Those who wish to stand on the right side of history must recognise Palestine as a state. This is essential for an equitable and just perspective. In Europe, the spark of recognising the legitimacy of Palestine and the Palestinian State has already been ignited."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, returning from his visit to Washington, the capital of the United States, where he attended the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, made statements and answered questions from journalists aboard the plane.
President Erdoğan highlighted his attendance at the 75th anniversary of NATO. He reiterated that the summit was instrumental in showcasing the alliance's unity and coherence. He noted that during the summit, the topics discussed and the decisions made were comprehensively shared in a press conference.
In addition to these, President Erdoğan stated that he would like to touch upon a few specific issues:
"The global community is well aware of the repercussions we endured due to acts of terrorism." I emphasised once more that we expect genuine solidarity from our allies in the battle against terrorism. Furthermore, I pointed out the necessity of swiftly removing restrictions on defence industry trade. At the NATO Vilnius Summit, all allies made a commitment to this effect. Meanwhile, most of our allies have fulfilled their commitments. However, despite their promises, certain NATO members have not altered their unfavourable position. I clearly addressed this in the first session and throughout the summit's bilateral discussions, and I expressed it to the leaders I met with. I stated, 'We do not want to talk about restrictions between NATO allies anymore'."
"We have multifaceted ties with both countries"
President Erdoğan emphasised that Türkiye has maintained a balanced approach in the Ukraine-Russia war since the beginning, and said, "The Russian Federation is a neighbouring country, just like Ukraine. It is a country with which we have deep connections. We have multifaceted ties with both countries. We also prioritise maintaining our connections despite the war.
President Erdoğan, emphasising the need to return to diplomacy and prepare a ground for negotiations to prevent further bloodshed at the summit, stated, "In this regard, I emphasised that we are ready to continue the Istanbul process."
President Erdoğan, recalling that former Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands has been announced as the new Secretary-General of NATO, stated, "During his campaign, Rutte paid a visit to our country, where we had the opportunity to share our concerns and expectations with him. I believe he will proceed in this direction. I also met with my esteemed friend, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who will hand over his duties on October 1. I expressed my gratitude for his dedicated efforts and close cooperation with our nation over the past decade."
President Erdoğan also stated that he held bilateral meetings with several heads of state and government during the summit.
"We are facing a world order dominated by powerful nations"
When asked, "What is your view on NATO's role in the current global landscape in light of its stated objectives? NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg emphasised the importance of exploring new opportunities and capabilities within the defence industry. Similarly, you expressed similar views when you departed from Istanbul. Who or what is the target of Stoltenberg's defence? President Erdoğan highlighted the significant role that powers play in the rapid changes taking place around the world today.
President Erdoğan stressed that "We are facing a world order dominated by powerful nations" and that the solidarity between Russia and China is causing serious concern in the West. President Erdoğan went on to say:
"The West provides Ukraine with various forms of assistance, both monetary and in kind, including weaponry and ammunition. Despite all of this support, they have yet to achieve the expected results in Ukraine. At this stage, the presence of NATO is their strongest assurance. NATO is a powerful entity that provides them with a sense of relief. Germany, France, the UK, and the US are some of the Western countries. Therefore, this power is strengthened. Despite this strengthening, their failure to attain the desired outcomes in the intense competition among major powers inevitably leads these nations to a particular juncture. The perspective we hold as Türkiye sets us apart. We are in contact with both Russia and Ukraine. We strive to be as fair as possible. Occasionally, this situation causes concern for both Russia and Ukraine. But we emphasise that 'You are both our neighbours, and we have had significant relations between us for a long time.' As an illustration, we have made significant progress in the Black Sea Grain Corridor. We met the demands of both Russia and Ukraine. They said, 'Give the West what you took from this grain corridor, but also give it to Africa', and they told us to take as well. We have tried to do it as much as we could. Now we are saying, let us reopen the grain corridor. We are currently in discussions with both Russia and Ukraine. We are still awaiting the results regarding this matter. During my recent meeting with President Putin, we discussed this matter. We had the opportunity to discuss these matters with Mr. Zelenskiy, the President of Ukraine, during the NATO Summit. We are also interested in collaborating with the Ukrainian side to operate the Grain Corridor. I hope we can resume operations on this corridor."
"We have consistently expressed our concerns to the West"
When asked "We have a unique place in NATO. And how do you perceive the fairness and balance of our relationship with NATO? Is there reciprocity when you do a cost-benefit analysis and compare what we provide to NATO with what we receive? President Erdoğan responded,
"In a cost-benefit analysis, Türkiye has not fallen into a position contrary to the principle of reciprocity. We have only not been able to get NATO to step in yet when it comes to the fight against terrorism. I have made it clear to Mr. Stoltenberg multiple times that we are not at ease with this situation. Being a member of NATO, we have consistently expressed our concerns to the West. First and foremost, Germany, France, and the UK are countries where terrorism receives a certain level of support. We have provided a thorough explanation, particularly to Germany. For instance, in the fight against terrorism, we have frequently been left alone to secure our country's borders and thus NATO's, as well as to eradicate threats. Furthermore, terrorists that threaten NATO's borders have received aid and support to enhance their threats. This paints a really unfavourable image. On the other hand, there is currently an issue with Germany regarding the turbines for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, as they are currently being held at German customs. We are deeply troubled by this. I once again brought this up to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during our meeting. We must address the issues raised by the unfulfilled request for the acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, the turbine issue, and the procurement of specific gear for our frigates. We will follow the progress."
"It is customary for Türkiye to be represented in this capacity"
Additionally, the discussion also touched upon the position of Deputy Secretary-General of NATO. Hüseyin Diriöz held the position from 2010 to 2013, while Tacan İldem served as Deputy Secretary-General from 2016 to 2020. When asked, "During the meeting with the new NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, you expressed the request for Türkiye to be considered for a Deputy Secretary General position. What is his perspective, will this happen, and if so, has a name been chosen?" President Erdoğan provided the following response:
"I made this clear during the press conference I organised following the NATO Summit. This is not my decision, nor is it that of our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. We have informed them of our request regarding this matter. Mr Rutte stated that he would travel to Türkiye before the handover. If this visit happens, we will go over these topics with him again. We are one of the most essential NATO members. We are making essential contributions to keep the Alliance strong and effective. It is customary for Türkiye to be represented in this capacity within the Secretariat General. In fact, Mr. Rutte had suggested that Türkiye would be well-suited for such a role. We want a person from our nation nominated as Deputy Secretary General not only to represent our country in that position but also because we believe it will make an important contribution to NATO in this vulnerable period."
"What is crucial for us right now is the F-16 issue"
In response to the question, "You also addressed it at the press conference, but we are curious how the F-35 issue will be resolved. Is there a plan to return to the programme, or will there be a settlement regarding the F-16?" President Erdoğan stated,
"Our top objective is to ensure that our F-16 demand is met. There may be differences in the sub-groups, but we do not want to discuss monetary relations there. Because we have already paid for the F-35. In fact, five F-35s were brought into the hangar, but the situation changed, and the US eventually refused to give us our F-16s. In the last meeting, US President Biden stated, 'I will solve the F-16 problem in 3-4 weeks.' What is crucial for us right now is the F-16 issue. If these planes and their parts arrive, we already have enough technical personnel. In this subject, all of our workshops are quite effective in F-16 upgrading. We, along with our relevant ministers and organisations, are actively monitoring this process and are working hard to see results as soon as possible."
When asked, "Prior to the NATO Summit, you attended the summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO.) You also conveyed Türkiye's wish to join. In the Western press, you were regarded as 'the sole leader who could meet with Putin' among NATO member state leaders. Türkiye is therefore viewed as a centre of balance. You just cited the fresh initiatives on the Grain Corridor and the recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. What kind of balancing policy is Türkiye pursuing?" President Erdoğan stated that Türkiye maintains connections with Russia, China, and Belarus without any negative consequences.
President Erdoğan stated that they met with President Xi Jinping of China in a sincere atmosphere during the Shanghai Summit, and added:
We had productive conversations with President Putin of Russia and President Lukashenko of Belarus. All of these interactions, I believe, will pay off sooner or later. We will see. In the meantime, our ministers had meetings. Our party's senior management was in China. They held highly productive discussions with China's ruling party. When my colleagues briefed me about these meetings, they told me that they were treated at a very high level. Our colleagues organised a wonderful and successful visit. We then met with Mr. Xi Jinping in Astana. . He invited us to visit China again. I invited him to our country, and he answered, 'Let me return next year.' We explored all of these issues, both political and commercial. We may visit China following the United Nations General Assembly meeting. However, I believe Mr. Xi Jinping will make a return visit in 2025.
"Peace in Syria will be of the greatest benefit to us."
In response to the question, "Regarding improving relations with Syria, you stated, 'We announce that we will make our invitation to Bashar al-Assad.' At the news conference you organised following the NATO Summit, you stated, 'We have extended the invitation and are awaiting a response.' Is this invitation intended to take place in Ankara, Istanbul, or somewhere near the border? We know how Russia views this rapprochement, but is there a reaction from the US and Iran?" President Erdoğan said,
"I appointed Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to carry out this task. Foreign Minister is currently in talks with his interlocutors, and they will define the overall road map. I hope we will take the appropriate steps. We believe that a just peace in Syria is possible. We have repeatedly stated that Syria's territorial integrity is in our interests. A just peace to be constructed in Syria will benefit us the most. We believe that the most critical phase in this construction process is to usher in a new era with Syria. So far, the procedure has been positive. I think we can take concrete steps in the near future.
The United States and Iran should be satisfied with these positive developments and support the process to eliminate the agony. We have been working for years to end the suffering of our neighbour. Our fundamental expectation is that no one will be upset by the climate that will be created to allow Syria to develop a new future as a whole. Terrorist organisations will do everything they can to taint this process. They will plan provocations and build up games. We are aware of everything, and we are prepared. We want peace in Syria, and we expect all peacemakers to support this historic appeal."
"Not enough but satisfactory"
When asked, "According to reports, members of the PKK terrorist organisation are fleeing to the south after setting fire to villages, cities, and some settlements during operations against them in Iraq. It turned out that they had perpetrated arson. There were additional reports that others close to Bafel Talabani were involved in these attacks, including Peshmerga members. The Erbil administration has also issued statements regarding this matter. In recent days, our Ministry of National Defence has likewise posted 'the lock is closing' messages. In response to the question, "How do you evaluate the latest situation on the ground?" he stated, "After we visited Iraq, we saw for the first time that the Iraqi administration has made very tangible efforts on the ground in the war against the PKK."
President Erdoğan stated that the National Security Council acknowledged the Iraqi administration's statement that the PKK's operations are outlawed in Iraq, adding, "We see the reflections of this on the ground. Following that visit, our security personnel cooperated with the Erbil administration, which was pleasing. We have a solid working relationship with Iraq's Ministry of Defence and intelligence organisations."
President Erdoğan stated that the Iraqi Ministry of Interior confirmed that the PKK was responsible for the arson and fires in Iraq, and added:
"The Erbil administration then issued statements to confirm this. These are the first developments in the fight against the PKK in recent months. Hence, the current state of affairs falls short of our expectations, yet it is still satisfactory. After all, there is a process running now. The tension between the Sulaymaniyah administration and the Erbil administration persists in Iraq. As we also made clear during our visit to Erbil, our stance towards Sulaymaniyah will remain unchanged unless the Sulaymaniyah administration there distances itself from the PKK. The airspace embargo will remain in place. As we have explicitly communicated to them on every occasion, 'We will consider our stance if you take some steps on the Sulaymaniyah side.' Right now, the ball rests in their court."
"Our position has been vindicated over time"
Upon the question, "We are unable to maintain the intended level of relationship with the US. As you know, there is an upcoming election in the US. Washington is using the fight against DAESH to cover its support for the PKK and the PYD. Meanwhile, they are also protecting FETO. They do not even bother to make an excuse for it. What do you suppose the US could be reckoning at the expense of losing Türkiye?", President Erdoğan noted that they were unable to discuss these issues with Biden during the NATO Summit.
President Erdoğan said, "There are several issues associated with FETO, yet we did not delve into them. Currently, FETO does not exist anyway. It is unclear what happened to it." and he went on to say:
Additionally, there is a forthcoming election in the US in three and a half months. As for us, we have the United Nations General Assembly on our agenda. During the General Assembly, we will gain insight into the global discourse. Once again, we will deliver our messages there. I anticipate that these messages will yield auspicious outcomes from the United Nations General Assembly. The whole idea of placing terrorist groups and an ally like Türkiye on opposing sides of the scale is a flawed approach from the outset. There is absolutely no justification for endorsing and utilising puppets like FETO and PKK in any manner. Both FETO and PKK are akin to weeds that are intentionally sown to cause damage to the neighbor's land. Your neighbour will undoubtedly find a way to combat them and remove the weeds from his land, but the seeds will eventually make their way to your land and surely cause damage. I have been highlighting the boomerang effect of terrorism for many years. Our position has been vindicated on various occasions over time."
"Decision to recognise Palestine contributes to global peace and tranquility"
In response to the question, "Do you think US President Biden will withstand the pressure to 'step down'? You actually responded during the press conference today, but would you prefer Donald Trump or Joe Biden?", President Erdoğan said, "There is one fact: First and foremost, Biden has said, 'I am not stepping down.'"
Noting that the US media has already begun to announce who to bring and where, President Erdoğan said, "Both figures are vying for the support of the American people for a second term. The American people will consider the accomplishments or failures of both candidates during their term in office and decide. We will have to wait and see about this decision."
Upon the question, "The recognition of the Palestinian state is among the key election promises of the New Popular Front, the leftist alliance that emerged victorious in France's early general elections called by French President Emmanuel Macron. Should they end up successful, will their stance towards Palestine set an example for other European nations? What is your opinion on this?", President Erdoğan replied as follows:
"Currently, Macron, in his capacity as President of France, will choose who will form a government and with whom. The coalition forces, whatever they may be, will now proceed with the necessary work in parliament, with Macron having the final say on the matter. Meanwhile, those who wish to stand on the right side of history must recognise Palestine as a state. This is essential for an equitable and just perspective. In Europe, the spark of recognising the legitimacy of Palestine and the Palestinian State has already been ignited. The recent precise decisions of Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia have opened that door. We will be delighted if France makes such a decision. The decision to recognise Palestine contributes to global peace and tranquility. All nations that do not yet recognise Palestine as a state today should take the right decision without delay. The path to both regional and global peace lies through a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders."
"We told Pashinyan everything"
To the question, "In Iran, the president has changed; in Armenia, Pashinyan advocates for peace. The Turkish-Azerbaijani perspective is about bringing peace to the Caucasus. In this context, what is your view on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement and Iran's perspective on the Zangezur Corridor? You mentioned that after Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a peace agreement, a climate of peace will prevail in the region, and the Armenia-Türkiye border may be opened. Is that also conceivable?" President Erdoğan replied, "Why not? I mean we have already told Pashinyan everything on the matter."
President Erdoğan went on to say:
"We must now set all sails for peace. We hope that a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be achieved soon. As Türkiye, we wholeheartedly support this peace. The opening of the Zangezur Corridor will crown and complement the peace agreement. These efforts will benefit the welfare and peace of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Türkiye, and other nations in the region. We hope that decisions with such positive implications are taken without delay and that the necessary actions are taken. Encouraging signs are emerging from the region, which we hope will translate into positive news. It is crucial for other nations to embrace a comparable approach to contributing to the peace process in order to establish lasting peace as soon as possible."
"A strategic corridor for the benefit of all"
Stating that the Zanzegur Corridor was not discussed during the meeting with the Iranian President, President Erdoğan said, "We solely evaluated his victory in the election."
President Erdoğan expressed their intention to elevate Türkiye-Iran ties to a whole new level and said, "The Zangezur Corridor is a strategic corridor for the benefit of all, particularly Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Iran. Once the corridor becomes operational, both Iran and Azerbaijan will be relieved. That corridor holds great significance for President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Inshallah, Azerbaijan will be very relieved as soon as the rail system there is put into operation."
In response to the question, "More than ever before, there has been talk about the risk of a third world war. You have attended the last two major international summits, which are the Shanghai Summit, followed by the NATO Summit. Do you believe the risk is high at the end of these two summits? Do you have such a concern? If so, what specific measures should be implemented to avoid this?", President Erdoğan said, "Honestly, I don't believe the risk is significant, and I have no desire to believe otherwise."
President Erdoğan noted, "When we consider the reasons that prompted the world to descend into a war in the past as well as neglected measures, it is clear that we must exercise caution not to make the same mistakes today. We should speak more about peace than war. Each step we take should aim at peace rather than tension, and we must formulate our plans to establish a lasting state of peace," highlighting the importance of all nations making efforts to foster an atmosphere of peace and tranquility rather than one of tension.