President Erdoğan answers journalists’ questions on his return flight from Brazil
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shared his evaluations on current issues and answered questions from journalists on the plane while returning from Brazil, where he attended the G20 Summit.
President Erdoğan stated that they had completed their visit to Rio de Janeiro for the G20 Summit, hosted by Brazil. He reminded that in the press conference after the summit, they shared their opinions not only about the summit but also other matters.
The President emphasised that the G20 is a consultative platform representing 85% of the world economy and two-thirds of the global population, and reminded that during Türkiye's presidency of the G20 in 2015, they raised significant issues.
President Erdoğan pointed out that issues such as combating terrorism, food security, the migration crisis, and energy security are still among humanity's top concerns today and added that Türkiye actively participated in activities during Brazil's G20 presidency under the theme "Building a Fair World and a Sustainable Planet."
President Erdoğan highlighted that the main topics of the summit were "Fighting Hunger and Poverty" and "Reform of International Organizations." He also mentioned that discussions were held regarding climate change and energy transformation, with initiatives and future evaluations presented during the sessions.
President Erdoğan stated that Türkiye emphasised its conscientious and entrepreneurial foreign policy during the summit, and continued:
"At the summit, I drew attention to Israeli aggression against Gaza and Lebanon. As a result of our initiatives, strong statements on Gaza were included in the G20 Leaders' Declaration. In addition to the dangerous escalation in Lebanon, a call to remove the obstacles to delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza was also recorded at the leaders’ level. As you know, we are one of the countries that provide the most humanitarian aid in proportion to national income. We supported Brazil’s presidency in the 'Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty' initiative as a founding member. We invited the G20 members to prioritize efforts to reduce food waste and the 'Zero Waste' initiative within the Alliance's work. With the policies and projects we have implemented over the past 22 years, we have always stood by our citizens in need. By establishing one of the most inclusive social security systems in the world, we have fulfilled the requirements of being a social state. Regardless of the economic conditions our country faces, we never compromise on our social policies that embrace the oppressed, the poor, and the downtrodden."
"A transparent and accountable structure is needed"
Recalling that the second session of the summit was on "Reform of International Organizations," President Erdoğan noted that the approach "The world is bigger than five" is increasingly gaining traction.
President Erdoğan emphasised that the current system, which serves the powerful, is no longer able to deliver what is expected and stressed the need for a more democratic, more representative, transparent, and accountable structure.
President Erdoğan added that Türkiye has expressed the importance of this in every platform, stating:
"We emphasised that developing countries, including the IMF and the World Bank, need stronger representation in international financial institutions. The G20 platform has proven its effectiveness in many matters since the global economic crisis. I believe that we will overcome the global challenges we face with G20’s determined, effective, and solution-oriented approach. I hope that our meetings and discussions will lead to auspicious results."
"We will continue to advocate for a fairer world"
After providing his evaluations, President Erdoğan answered journalists' questions.
Regarding the question: "G20 is discussing the 'Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty' and the 'Reform of Global Governance Institutions.' Türkiye, as one of the countries that donate and provide the most aid in proportion to its national income, has long been saying, 'A fairer world is possible.' Is the world slowly moving toward the point you mentioned? Developments indicate a chaotic global order. There are many reasons to be pessimistic. Do you still hold onto the hope of a fairer world? Do you hear the footsteps of this hope?" President Erdoğan responded, "A fairer world is possible; as you know, this is our thesis. We also announced it to the world in the form of a book. This is a step we have taken in the fight against injustice."
President Erdoğan explained that Türkiye’s position as one of the largest donors, in proportion to its national income, shows its sensitivity and responsibility in international solidarity. He emphasised that Türkiye has proven itself in terms of humanitarian aid worldwide.
President Erdoğan stated that the issues in global governance, weaknesses in international cooperation, and power relations are making the realisation of the vision "A fairer world is possible" more difficult and added:
"The problems in the global system are now causing irreparable damage. We made this very clear in our speeches at the summit. Countries expressed clearly and openly that they accept our thesis of 'A fairer world is possible'. This broken system must be addressed before it drags our world into great disasters. If we liken our world to a huge ship sailing in the open sea, we are pointing to an iceberg that we can see with the naked eye from the deck. If we do not turn the rudder toward what is good, right, just, and fair as soon as possible, we are telling the world that we will crash into that iceberg. Therefore, governance reform is vital. Achieving this reform and building a fairer world should be the priority of all states. Countries that resist this reform with concerns like 'Will my privileges disappear? Will I give up my comfort?' are not only darkening their own future but also the future of our planet. We will continue to advocate that the world is bigger than five and that a fairer world is possible."
"We will continue our efforts to provide aid"
At the G20 Summit in Brazil, the main theme, as you mentioned, was hunger and poverty. According to a report by a reputable research institution based in the UK, Türkiye has been ranked as the country that provides the most aid in proportion to its Gross Domestic Product over the past three years. Türkiye ranks first in the humanitarian aid list in this report. Western countries, which consume 70% of the world’s resources, are behind Türkiye in the fight against hunger and poverty. How do you assess this situation, and how do you read it?" President Erdoğan responded: "First and foremost, we are duty-bound to do our part, and we have done so and continue to do so. We will undoubtedly continue this without hesitation."
President Erdoğan continued his speech as follows:
"Humanitarian aid has always been among our priorities in proportion to our power, and this will not change. Türkiye’s position as the country providing the most humanitarian aid relative to its national income is a remarkable success on the international stage. We are happy about this. This reflects Türkiye's commitment to humanitarian values and global solidarity. Türkiye’s humanitarian aid is based not on a strategy shaped by geographical proximity and historical ties but on a human-centred approach. We pay special attention to this. At the same time, we are fighting to eliminate the injustices and distortions that cause people to fall into need. Without addressing the underlying causes of conflicts, wars, terrorism, climate crises, and migration, a final solution is impossible. We say, 'Let’s fight hunger and poverty globally. But let’s not stop there; let’s also eliminate the root causes that create these issues.'"
Pointing out that the lack of humanitarian aid by developed countries, given their resources, is an issue, President Erdoğan said: "Western countries’ efforts to fight poverty and hunger lag behind Türkiye’s efforts. The failure of Western countries, which hold a large portion of the world’s resources, to be more active in fighting poverty and hunger is a reflection of global inequality and injustice. Just because they do it, we cannot stand by and watch. We will continue our efforts to provide aid."
"Our relations with Brazil are developing in every field"
"On Sunday, after landing in Rio, you had a meeting with President Lula da Silva of Brazil. You had previously mentioned the importance of this meeting. Türkiye and Brazil have been cooperating on many international issues. For example, both countries share a similar approach regarding the atrocities in Gaza. How did this meeting go in terms of both this issue and bilateral relations? Could you provide some details about the meeting?" President Erdoğan responded: "As you know, I have a sincere friendship with Mr. Lula. We share similar views on many issues, particularly regarding the Israeli atrocities in Gaza. Our relations with Brazil are developing in every area thanks to the friendship we have established."
President Erdoğan shared that they had a meeting before the summit and said:
"Our delegations held a meeting. Although our countries are geographically distant, our friendship and relations are, on the contrary, extremely close. We had the opportunity to evaluate issues regarding the development of political, economic, and cultural relations between our countries. We discussed the possibility of creating a win-win relationship for both sides by cooperating in the fields of energy, agriculture, and technology. We assessed the importance of Brazil's inclusion of 'Global Governance Reform' among the G20 priorities and expressed our satisfaction with this. Brazil, like us, is concerned about the inability of the United Nations to perform its primary duties. The inability of the United Nations to prevent global crises and conflicts is also strengthening many risks. We also discussed our initiative for an arms embargo against Israel on the United Nations platform to halt Israeli aggression."
"I advise everyone to act carefully"
"U.S. President Joe Biden announced that Ukraine has been allowed to use the American-made 'Army Tactical Missile System' on Russian territory. This decision comes amid expectations that the Donald Trump administration, which is set to take office in January, may reduce American aid to Ukraine. Is this response to these claims? Immediately after this decision, France and the UK also announced their support for the missile deal. In fact, Ukraine has already launched a missile strike. So, do you think Biden is leading the world into disaster as he leaves office?" In response to this question, President Erdoğan stated the following:
"First of all, we do not find this decision right, nor do we approve of it. Since the beginning of the Ukraine-Russia war, we have believed that the war can end not with more weapons, more blood, and more tears but with more efforts for peace, good faith, and diplomacy. Now, this move by Mr. Biden can be seen as an action to fuel the war, ensuring it never ends and even spreads. Biden’s decision, beyond escalating the conflict, will lead to a larger response from Russia. Mr. Putin has also approved a doctrine allowing a nuclear response if his country faces ballistic missile attacks. All of this could bring the region and the world to the brink of a new and large-scale war. The mindset of 'After me, it may flood' will not get us anywhere. Our expectation and hope are that both Ukraine and Russia focus on peace, maintaining calm, and avoiding provocations. A single wrong move in this environment, a provocation, would be no different than setting fire to a barrel of gunpowder. Therefore, I advise everyone to act carefully."
"We will make our decisions based on all possibilities"
"When we look at the current cabinet announced by the elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, we see names that are in contrast with Türkiye's policies. For instance, Mr. Trump has recommended an anti-Türkiye Secretary of State. The statements of this person regarding the Palestinians and Hamas are horrifying. Should we be concerned about this for NATO, Türkiye, or the world?" In response to this question, President Erdoğan stated, "We cannot build our relationships on prejudices. We need to be very careful and sensitive about this. Although President-elect Donald Trump has said that he will end wars, it is still too early to comment on the new era."
President Erdoğan emphasised that the stance and attitude of the United States towards the Middle East under Trump's administration will be seen when the new president takes office. He continued his speech as follows:
"In the new era, we will strive to advance Türkiye-U.S. relations within the framework of our national interests. Of course, we analyse who is in Mr. Trump’s cabinet and their approach, and we make our preparations accordingly. What people say and think before coming to power is not insignificant to us. However, what matters most is what they do once they assume the responsibility of power. We will take steps according to concrete actions and make our decisions based on all possibilities. We want to believe in Mr. Trump’s rhetoric of ending wars, and we expect him to take steps in that direction. A United States that acts with the approach of ending wars can create a new climate for the peaceful resolution of conflicts in our region. This is our natural right. We hope to witness developments that align with our positive expectations and resolve our issues one by one. Our stance on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the Israel issue, and the Middle East in general is clear. We shared our views and determination regarding the end of the war in the region through diplomatic telephone calls, and we will continue to do so in the future."
A journalist asked President Erdoğan, "You have said that (Donald) Trump's presidency will seriously affect the political and military balances in the Middle East. You also mentioned that you would evaluate the withdrawal of American troops from Syria. In a report published by Reuters, it is stated that Ankara is pressuring the U.S. to stop supporting PKK militants in northern Syria. There are also questions about the possibility of Türkiye launching a new operation in northern Syria. What is your evaluation of this matter?" To this, President Erdoğan responded:
"We are determined to make the issue of terrorism history. We have absolutely no tolerance for the organisations that constantly pose national security threats to our country beyond our borders. We have communicated to all our interlocutors how clear and determined we are about this matter. We will clearly explain this approach and our goals to our new interlocutors as well. The north of Syria has been occupied by the PKK/PYD/YPG, supported by the United States. This region is critically important not only for us but also for Syria. Removing the PKK/PYD/YPG from this area is also crucial for the Syrian government. The civil war in Syria has brought deep instability to our neighbour’s land.
Instability, like the insects drawn to a swamp, has brought terrorist organisations across our borders. Just as we are trying to dry up this swamp, the Syrian government must also make the same effort. We are currently fighting the insects in that swamp. We cannot just say, ‘Since the swamp will eventually dry up, let the insects roam free.’ We will continue our fight against terrorism. Türkiye is prepared for the current reality and the new situation that will arise when the U.S. withdraws from Syria. National security comes above all else and overrides every issue. We are striving to shift the situation in Syria to the benefit of the region through necessary consultations with Russia."
