Erdogan on Turkey's Foreign Policy and Regional Developments

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed a range of foreign policy and regional issues in an interview with Al Jazeera, addressing topics such as relations with the European Union, F-35 fighter jets, the situation in Gaza and Syria, as well as developments concerning Lebanon and the Hormuz Strait.

Erdogan stated that Turkey's accession to the European Union is currently not a priority for Ankara, noting that Europe is the one suffering the most from Turkey's absence in the EU.

Regarding the F-35 fighter jets, the Turkish president revealed that he received a corresponding promise from U.S. President Donald Trump and is now expecting its fulfillment.

On the situation in Gaza, Erdogan declared that Turkey will continue to support Gaza, asserting that Hamas is fulfilling its obligations while Israel continues its aggression.

The Turkish president also spoke about the need to establish stability in Syria, emphasizing that Ankara is ready to assist in this process. According to him, Syrian Kurds should also benefit from the opportunities for peace and stability.

Regarding the Mecca agreement, Erdogan termed it an important message to the international community. He stated that the agreement envisages joint actions by the participating countries in the event of an external attack against one of them. He did not rule out that other countries, including Egypt, may join later.

Concerning Lebanon, Erdogan expressed serious concerns over ongoing Israeli attacks. He mentioned that during Trump’s recent visit to Turkey, he called on the U.S. president to help facilitate a ceasefire, given Washington’s influence.

Erdogan also stated that Turkey prioritizes the swift opening of the Hormuz Strait, estimating that keeping the strait closed does not serve the interests of any party involved in the conflict.