President Erdoğan answers journalists’ questions on his return from visits to Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "Türkiye is undoubtedly the country that reacts most strongly to the Israeli atrocities in the world and takes the most tangible steps, including suspending trade."
During the return flight from his visits to Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, President Erdoğan answered journalists' questions on the agenda and made assessments.
Recalling that he had concluded his visits to Riyadh and Baku, President Erdoğan recalled that he touched upon the genocide in Gaza and Lebanon in his speech at the Second Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation-Arab League held in Riyadh.
President Erdoğan said that he drew attention to the necessity of uninterrupted and regular delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need, with priority given to the declaration of an immediate ceasefire, and added, "As you know, we are making intense efforts to keep the pressure on Israel alive and to take coercive measures against this country on the basis of international law. Türkiye is undoubtedly the country that reacts most strongly to the Israeli atrocities in the world and takes the most tangible steps, including suspending trade. We are also at the top in terms of the amount of humanitarian aid sent to Gaza."
Stating that 52 countries and 2 international organisations have expressed their support for Türkiye's initiative at the United Nations to prevent arms and ammunition shipments to Israel, President Erdoğan said, "We have recently sent our letter regarding this initiative to the President-in-Office of the Security Council of the United Nations General Assembly and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At our summit in Riyadh, a decision was taken inviting all members of the Organisation and the Arab League to sign our letter. Our country's humanitarian aid efforts and the steps it took to stop the massacre were praised."
Recalling that they also had the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings on the occasion of the summit, President Erdoğan stated that he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and that the meeting was fruitful.
President Erdoğan recalled that he also held contacts and meetings with King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, as well as with the heads of state, government, and other officials of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Iraq, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, and the Maldives, and said:
"During the second part of my visit, I attended the World Leaders Climate Action Summit in Baku. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, who hosted the summit, for the kindness shown to me and my delegation. The summit, the most important climate action meeting under the umbrella of the United Nations, was attended by 80 countries at the level of heads of state and government. Climate finance was the most eagerly anticipated discussion item at the summit. The main focus of discussion was the generation of the financial resources that developing countries require.
We discussed the reaffirmation of the annual climate finance goal of $100 billion, which was proclaimed at the Copenhagen Climate Change summit in 2009, for the period beyond 2025, as well as the encouragement of supplementary mechanisms. I detailed our country's efforts to combat climate change during my address to the summit. I highlighted the fact that we will persist in our efforts to contribute to the global climate trend. I emphasised the significance of the Zero Waste Movement, which was sparked by the initiatives of First Lady Emine Erdoğan and has since evolved into a project of global scale. I then indicated how we have made strides in reforestation, water management, and sustainable energy. In renewable energy, we rank fifth in Europe and eleventh in the world."
President Erdoğan pointed out that in addition to the water efficiency mobilisation, they designated November 11 as "National Reforestation Day" and that they have begun to plant millions of saplings in the soil with the help of citizens.
President Erdoğan emphasised that they also engaged in bilateral meetings with his counterparts who were in attendance at the Leaders' Summit, meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of England, President Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Maia Sandu of Moldova, President Jakov Milatović of Montenegro, and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.
Noting that they engaged in discussions regarding bilateral relations and regional developments during these meetings, President Erdoğan expressed hope that the decisions made at both summits would be auspicious and expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan for their gracious hospitality.
"The climate crisis is one of the most pressing challenges faced by the world"
When a journalist asked about Türkiye's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2053, President Erdoğan responded:
"The climate crisis is one of the most pressing challenges faced by the world. We treat this matter with the same level of gravity as we do wars, conflicts, and migrations. Working with our relevant ministries, we place a high priority on identifying the best course of action in this regard as the government in Türkiye. We have implemented, are currently implementing, and will continue to implement measures to optimise the use of the limited resources of our world and elevate our civilisation, which we have nurtured over the course of centuries as a species, to a new level. Türkiye is deeply concerned about this matter and making every effort to contribute to the solution. However, it is impossible to achieve a profound and lasting solution to this issue solely through our own efforts or the efforts of a small number of countries cooperating with us.
To address this issue, it is imperative that we organise our efforts and shoulder the load of this problem collectively. We will not be able to tackle this issue when some countries are fully committed to the fight against climate change while others ignore necessary measures or even create more environmental pollution out of greed for profit. We can only tackle this global issue with goal-focused and highly aware mobilisation of, especially, the smallest unit of societies, the family, as well as organisations, institutions, local governments, NGO's, countries, and international organisations. Particularly, providing financing, technology transfer, and capacity building are crucial to facilitating the participation of low-resource countries in the fight against climate change."
President Erdoğan emphasised that the significance of the zero waste initiative is increasingly evident over time and highlighted his commitment to increasing this initiative's widespread adoption and turning it into a lifestyle. Emphasising that environmental and climate sensitivities are at the highest level and will remain so, President Erdoğan said, "We will continue to implement our measures as we have implemented them so far."
"Certainly, there are always opportunities between the two countries"
President Erdoğan was asked to evaluate Türkiye-USA relations in the upcoming period and the course of relations in terms of opportunities and risk based on his phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump. President Erdoğan said that the developments in Türkiye-USA relations in the upcoming period cannot be achieved through a simple phone diplomacy.
Stating that they will engage in bilateral or international meetings with President Trump to more effectively assess the upcoming period, President Erdoğan continued as follows:
"Right now, it is imperative to observe the assignment of President Trump's cabinet and the nature of the cabinet that will emerge. Members of President Trump's cabinet and my cabinet will be better acquainted through the meetings they will have, and, inshallah, we will take our steps accordingly. The vice presidents and ministers of foreign affairs play a crucial role here. They will hold meetings to get acquainted and consult with each other. We hope the course of relations between Türkiye and the United States of America will be a lot more different in the upcoming period. Certainly, there are always opportunities between the two countries. Our main expectation is a commitment and necessary action to embrace these opportunities, which will be advantageous for both countries. As every other leader does, we too approach the issue from the perspective of our country's own interests. Economy is one of the top priorities of the Trump administration. And Türkiye is a country that offers investment opportunities with its strategic geographical location and young population. We have the potential to foster new avenues for enhancing trade and encouraging investments between the two nations. There exists a significant opportunity to foster fresh collaborations, particularly in the fields of energy, infrastructure, and technology."
Reminding that Elon Musk and his son were present at the meeting with US President Trump and Musk had a "A Fairer World Is Possible" book in his hand as he left the meeting at the Turkevi Centre (Turkish House), President Erdoğan replied the question of, "Do you have meetings with Elon Musk occasionally? And whether it is Türkiye's ventures to head into space, and technological studies regarding this, what developments do you believe await Türkiye in the global arena in this subject?" as follows:
"In this campaign, Elon Musk stood with Mr. Trump. What interests us here is that Musk is a businessman working in the fields of space and technology. He is a person who follows technology closely and has taken some serious steps forward in the field of technology. We had a meeting with him in Türkiye on this subject. When we met him at the Turkevi during the last United Nations General Assembly, he had his son with him. During our meeting at the Turkevi, we had a cordial atmosphere. Türkiye's technological breakthroughs are attracting the attention of the world. Technology is not an area where one can advance in solitude; you definitely need some collaborations. If cooperation opportunities arise in this field, steps can be taken together with Musk. We will see in time in which field Elon Musk will take part in President Trump's administration, and in which field he will benefit President Trump or the US administration."
"Our meetings with Trump were incomparably more than with Biden"
When asked to what extent the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States has reduced the threat of regional war and Israeli occupation, President Erdoğan stated:
"It seems to me that it is a bit early to have an opinion regarding this issue. First, let's wait for Mr. Trump to inherit the position from Mr. Biden. Only when the handover is complete will we be able to see what kind of steps will be taken in this new term. Our only hope is that President Trump will take much different steps regarding this region in this term. Because, sometimes, some of the signals can't make us help but worry. And for that, January needs to arrive first. I believe only when January arrives will we be able to see what kind of steps will be taken. I am of the opinion that we will maintain these types of interactions in the future, as we did within a few days of his election. Because in the past, our meetings with Trump were incomparably more than with Biden. I hope that we will execute these steps in the best manner possible during this time and that both the United States and Türkiye will reap the rewards."
"The West, led by the United States, regards China and Russia as a threat to the order that was established following the Second World War." President Erdoğan answered the question, "How do you evaluate the position of Russia and China on the issue of Israel and Gaza?" as follows:
"Time will show us the stance of President Xi Jinping of China and President Putin of Russia. Time is the most ideal witness to this sort of issue. We have an obligation to follow up on this issue, and we will. Accordingly, we will see what kind of attitude they adopt and what steps they will take. Since these are countries that have become very significant in the world. Hence, we will follow up with them from now on. China and Russia released statements regarding Israel's attacks as unjust and unlawful. Additionally, they have declarations that advocate for the end of the attacks and the resolution of the matter through diplomatic means. Russia and China have signed our joint letter initiative at the United Nations, which is a significant step in the process of preventing the shipment of arms and ammunition to Israel. Because Israel will become increasingly aggressive as long as the delivery of these arms and ammunition continues. The humanitarian situation in Palestine and Lebanon deteriorates with each passing day, that Israel remains unchallenged. People die every day due to hunger, thirst, lack of medicine, and brutal attacks, as they do not have uninterrupted access to humanitarian aid."
"Being human is enough to be against oppression"
In response to a question regarding which country provided the most support to his call for "Arab and Turkish states to take a more active role on Israel," President Erdoğan pointed out that they have invited everyone to stand against massacres and deaths since the day Israel started committing genocide in Gaza.
President Erdoğan continued by noting that Israel's oppression of Palestinians is a topic on the agenda of all the countries with which they come together:
"Being human is enough to be against oppression. It is not the language you speak, the faith you have, or the colour of your skin, hair, or eyes that matters; it is whether you possess human values. Regrettably, this was not evident from the governments of certain Western nations. It is extremely challenging to establish common ground with individuals who remain unmoved by the pleas of Palestinian children. It is delusional to anticipate opposition to oppression from individuals who remain passive in the face of attacks on hospitals and ambulances, perceiving such actions as normal and justifying them under the pretext that "Israel has the right to defend itself".
We are working in collaboration with the Arab and Turkic states in order to expand the alliance of humanity and show that we are one voice and one heart. We need to raise our voices against this oppression together, with the same purpose and in the same tone. What is more important is to do so without losing any more time. Our call involves concrete steps. For instance, a legal struggle has begun at the International Court of Justice, and it is crucial to profoundly support it. Working for the recognition of a Palestinian state is another concrete step. Without the two-state solution, it is not possible to ensure peace and tranquillity in the region. Trade restrictions and embargoes against Israel are another form of struggle. In order to increase diplomatic pressure, it is also important to put forward an active diplomacy that will corner Israel in every field. We are in the midst of a great test of humanity. Passing this test is possible by taking part in the alliance of humanity. Otherwise, history will judge both those who stand by Israel and those who remain silent."
"Being led by President Erdoğan, The Republic of Türkiye will not maintain relations with Israel"
Reminded of some recent allegations on "Türkiye still continuing its trade with Israel," President Erdoğan answered the question of his thoughts about the matter as such:
"This is the dirtiest face of politics. What is their purpose in doing these? They do it for undermining the government in charge. The Republic of Türkiye and the government have broken off relations with Israel. We do not have any sort of relations with Israel at this point. And we do not have any steps taken to enhance these relations in the future. What do these political parties do with all of this? They are in search of 'how to tear apart the People's Alliance or how to scorn it.' They will not succeed to do so in this way. At the moment, the People's Alliance is firmly committed to breaking off relations with Israel. We will continue this determination in the future as well. Being led by Tayyip Erdoğan, the government of the Republic of Türkiye will not maintain or enhance relations with Israel. We do not intend to do so.
Some have closed their ears, eyes and minds with the plugs of greed concerning this issue. They are blind to see the truth, deaf to hear the truth, mute to speak the truth. There is nothing left to do for them. They will continue to wallow in the hole they are in, no matter what we say. We have never taken slanderers as interlocutors. We have explained this issue to our nation, and we continue to do so. Because our nation is witness to how sincerely we are working on this issue. Both our nation and the world bear witness. We have severed trade and relations with Israel, period. We stand with Palestine in its just cause until the end. We will ensure that the tyrant Netanyahu and his associates are held accountable for their actions under the law. We will relentlessly pursue the oppressors until the very end. We recognise that those in charge of Israel's slander campaign will direct their attention towards us due to the significant amount of pressure we are exerting. We chart our course not based on the vile words of detractors, but in alignment with the path indicated by our nation."
The most discussed topic at the Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League, according to President Erdoğan, was his family photo with Syrian President Bashar Assad. When asked whether he had any interactions with the Syrian side on the sidelines of the summit, President Erdoğan responded that he did not have the opportunity to listen to Bashar Assad's speech and that he went out to meet with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
President Erdoğan stated that, "I continue to harbour optimism regarding Assad. I remain optimistic that we can reconcile and restore Syria-Türkiye relations." and continued:
"It is imperative that we eliminate terrorist organisations that operate between Syria and Türkiye. There are grounds for a just and lasting peace in Syria. Steps to accomplish this are straightforward. We have reached out to the Syrian side for normalisation. We believe that this normalisation will open the door to peace and harmony in Syria. We are not the ones threatening Syria's territorial integrity. The territorial integrity of Syria is threatened by terrorists, especially the PKK/PYD/YPG. Syria's territorial integrity is neither threatened by Syrians scattered in many countries. Assad should acknowledge this and implement measures to establish a new climate in his country and safeguard it. The Israeli threat next door is no fairy tale. It is important to acknowledge that the fire in the vicinity has the potential to spread rapidly in areas that are not stable.
