Politics
Türkiye suggests new deal for Black Sea security after attacks
Türkiye is worried that increasing attacks on vessels in the Black Sea, including on ships owned by Turkish firms, may destabilize maritime security. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan proposes a new, limited agreement between Russia and Ukraine to stop the attacks.
In the latest instance of attacks on ships in the Black Sea, a Turkish-owned boat was struck by Russian forces in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa on Friday. The cargo vessel was damaged by a suspected missile attack at Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port, the ship’s operator has said. No one was injured in the attack that set the vessel on fire. Since November, at least three ships have been struck in the Black Sea, near Turkish waters, in attacks attributed to Ukrainian forces hunting down an alleged “shadow fleet” of oil tankers that Russia utilized to evade Western-imposed sanctions.
Speaking to Turkish broadcaster TVNET on Saturday night, Fidan said Türkiye has long warned against the conflict’s spillover and that it is now spreading further. “Such things happen toward the end of conflicts. Everyone is raising the stakes, and they attack all fronts,” Fidan said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Sunday for a “dignified” peace and guarantees that Russia would not attack Ukraine again as he prepared to meet U.S. envoys and European allies in Berlin to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. Under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to sign a peace deal that initially backed Moscow’s demands, Zelenskyy accused Russia of dragging out the war through deadly bombings of cities and Ukraine’s power and water supplies.
Fidan noted that both sides were launching strikes on energy infrastructure, and that retaliation, unfortunately, disrupted commerce via the Black Sea. He said ships flying foreign flags but owned by Turkish companies, and Turkish crew members working on vessels operating across the Black Sea, faced risks. “Thankfully, no Turkish nationals were harmed in attacks so far,” he said. The minister said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting on the sidelines of a meeting in Turkmenistan earlier this week. “This is a source of concern for us. We are seeking agreements in two fields. If sides will not pursue a comprehensive cease-fire and peace agreement, they should have a limited agreement on not attacking energy infrastructure and ensuring maritime security in Black Sea,” Fidan stated. He recalled the grain deal between the two countries “which practically ensured this.” “For a long time, all ships navigating the Black Sea were spared from attacks and Black Sea commerce continued without problems. We need the same suspension (of attacks) now,” he said.
Türkiye was a key player in the now-on-hold deal that enabled the safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments through the Black Sea despite the blockade of its ports after the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted in 2022.
The accord, brokered by Ankara and the United Nations in July 2022, ended after Moscow refused to renew it. Ankara has ramped up efforts to try to revive the initiative.
Türkiye has positioned itself as an intermediary in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Erdoğan was a key player in brokering the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Moscow withdrew from the accord later, accusing the West of hampering its own grain and fertilizer exports, and has since attacked Ukrainian agricultural and port infrastructure. It has been said that it was ready to return to the deal once an accompanying agreement on Russia was in place.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said peace is not far away in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to quotes published on Saturday as he returned from Turkmenistan. Erdoğan said he hopes to discuss the Ukraine peace plan with U.S. President Donald Trump. He also warned the warring sides against attacks in the Black Sea, saying the region should not be used as an “area of confrontation.” “This would not benefit Russia or Ukraine. Everyone needs safe navigation in the Black Sea.”
Erdoğan said Saturday that he mainly discussed the war and peace efforts with Putin.
“Like all other actors, Mr. Putin knows very well where Türkiye stands on this issue,” he said.
Türkiye, which has sought to maintain relations with Moscow and Kyiv throughout the war, controls the Bosporus, a key passage for transporting Ukrainian grain and Russian oil toward the Mediterranean.
Fidan said Putin and Erdoğan were close friends and that Erdoğan has consistently maintained the same stance since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. Erdoğan advocated a fair and just peace that will benefit both sides. “There are ongoing processes we are also involved in (regarding the Russia-Ukraine peace). Mr. President wanted to hear from Putin and Putin personally informed him. It is good to see that Mr. Putin is genuinely keen on a cease-fire. There are certain conditions, though,” Fidan said.
The minister noted creative solutions were needed to the Russia-Ukraine war and both sides had “their own reality” and “the room they can maneuver based on this reality.” He noted that he had a phone call with U.S. special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict Steve Witkoff before Saturday’s live interview to discuss the conflict and the situation in Gaza. He said Ukraine’s Donbas region was a key component of any peace deal, and that both sides held different views on the region’s status. “Apparently, any deal will be concluded with elections and a referendum in Ukraine. Particularly, some issues can only be resolved through a referendum since (any compromise) can be a risk not any political leader considers taking on their own,” Fidan elaborated. He said another issue regarding the conflict was the fate of frozen Russian assets. “This is another area of conflict after Donbas,” he said.
Amid EU plans to use frozen Russian state assets to fund a loan to Ukraine, several member states, including Belgium, have raised legal concerns, noting that most assets are held at Euroclear in Brussels.
Russia’s central bank called the plan illegal and reserved the right to take any measures necessary to protect its interests.
On Friday, the bloc moved to “indefinitely immobilize” Russian assets, while EU leaders are set to decide at a Brussels summit on Dec. 18-19 whether to allocate funds to Ukraine.
YPG-Israel ties
Fidan also commented on another pressing issue for Türkiye: the Existence of the YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK. The minister said that the U.S.-backed terrorist group was certainly “emboldened by Israel.”
The YPG, which controls several locations in northeastern Syria, claims self-styled autonomy there and so far has rejected integration into post-Assad Syria’s army, despite signing a deal with Damascus on March 10.
The group was behind several terror attacks in Türkiye during the Syrian civil war, and Türkiye hopes it will complete its integration into the Syrian army and end posing a risk. Israel, which raised its hostility toward Ankara as Türkiye became the most fierce opponent of the Netanyahu administration’s genocide in Gaza, does not hide its embrace of the YPG. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar once described “Kurds in Syria” as their “natural ally,” referring to the ethnic community the YPG claims to represent.
Fidan said the YPG never cooperated with the Syrian opposition against the oppressive regime of Syria’s Assad, and Israel also opposed the ouster of Assad.
He noted that views abroad of the YPG had changed, and U.S. policy had shifted. “Now, the YPG should fulfill its deal with Damascus and undertake its responsibilities in the March 10 deal,” he said. He stated that this was crucial not only for the stability of Syria but also for the national security of Türkiye, Iraq and Jordan. The minister highlighted that Ankara encouraged dialogue, peace and confidence between Damascus and the YPG.
For years, the U.S. actively supported the YPG under the pretext that it was a key actor in a joint fight against Daesh. Fidan said Daesh had considerably shrunk and was no longer a systemic threat. “Regional actors can overcome this issue by joining forces,” he said. “Daesh is certainly a threat that should be fought against, but it is a problematic point of view to resort to different projects under the name of fighting Daesh. We are aware that reaction to Daesh is disproportionate, we believe this is about something else,” he said. Fidan noted that Daesh became an apparatus employed by any power, underlining that Western countries and the Assad regime exploited the Daesh issue “to gain room for maneuver.” “It is two different matters to see Daesh as a threat to the future of Syria and to see it as a terrorist group that should be eliminated. I believe the new administration in Syria will not allow (Daesh to thrive),” he said.
Fidan stressed that the YPG cannot have Daesh as an excuse to prolong its existence. “This is not simply about Syria’s security. This is also about Türkiye’s security. The YPG is the PKK’s wing in Syria. The PKK is currently engaged in this process. We want to see its results beyond our borders as well,” he said. Last year, Türkiye launched the terror-free Türkiye initiative by inviting the PKK’s jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, to urge his group to lay down arms. Öcalan cooperated and made the call to the PKK last February. The PKK accepted and announced it had started disarmament last summer. So far, the YPG declined to join the initiative, claiming Öcalan’s call did not cover them.
CAATSA issue with U.S.
The foreign minister also answered questions about Turkish-US relations. He said efforts are underway to lift sanctions imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), noting that the issue was framed at a leadership level during a meeting between President Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
Responding to a question on the status of the process, Fidan said the political will established at that meeting continues to guide work on CAATSA and the Halkbank case, which he described as the two remaining problematic areas in bilateral relations. “In all other areas, we are doing very well. Our goal is to expand global relations and increase trade, and work in these areas is ongoing,” he said. Turkish state lender Halkbank faces a lawsuit in the United States, allegedly for helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.
Fidan said he expects a breakthrough on CAATSA in the near future, stressing that the issue is particularly important for the defense industry.
He noted that Türkiye has reached an 80% self-sufficiency rate in defense production but emphasized that no country can be fully independent in this field and that cooperation remains essential. Because of CAATSA, he said, Türkiye’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) has been unable to develop institutional counterparts. “This is something we need to resolve. Our primary professional and expert actor in this area is the Presidency of Defense Industries,” Fidan said.
He added that once sanctions are lifted, the Presidency of Defense Industries will be able to fully assume its role, calling this one of the most significant gains of moving beyond CAATSA.
Fidan also pointed to NATO’s principle of mutual interdependence, noting that longstanding supply systems for certain equipment, weapons, and ammunition used by the Turkish Armed Forces have been disrupted by CAATSA and must be restored.
“Until we reach a period in which we can take our domestic capabilities to the highest level, we need to remove sanction regimes in certain areas not only from the United States but also from Europe,” Fidan said. He recalled that sanctions imposed by Canada, Germany and several European countries have been mainly lifted through diplomatic efforts.
Fidan said CAATSA sanctions can be lifted in 2026.
Türkiye on Tuesday strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province, warning that Israel’s escalating attacks are undermining the country’s territorial integrity and stability.
In a statement issued Aug. 18, the Foreign Ministry said Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on the military facility, located in the Idlib countryside, in the early hours of Tuesday.
“We strongly condemn the airstrikes carried out by Israel early this morning against the Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base in the countryside of Syria’s Idlib,” the ministry said.
The ministry criticized Israel for “recklessly” continuing attacks targeting Syria’s infrastructure and capabilities while violating the country’s territorial integrity and unity.
Ankara also urged the international community to take a firmer stance against Israel’s increasingly aggressive actions in Syria.
“We call on the international community to adopt a more resolute position to put an end to Israel’s aggression against Syria, which is taking on a new dimension with each passing day, and to ensure accountability for these actions that disregard international law,” the ministry said.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions over Israeli violations in Syria, with Türkiye repeatedly stressing the need to preserve Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political unity.
Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran strongly condemned the Israeli airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base.
“These attacks targeting Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and infrastructure are a continuation of a reckless policy of aggression that threatens regional peace and stability,” Duran said.
He said that Türkiye, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, would continue to support Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose any attempt that threatens peace and stability in the region.
Israel’s recent strikes on a military base in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province and the use of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s image in an election poster by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party bearing the slogan “They want Netanyahu to lose” are seen by experts as signs of the growing political and strategic pressure Netanyahu is facing.
“The circumstantial aspect of the issue is that, as Israel heads into an election period, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main concern is finding a new political target,” Gökhan Çınkara, an associate professor at Necmettin Erbakan University and director of the Global and Regional Studies Center, told Daily Sabah.
“This was already evident in the campaign poster he used for the election,” he said, adding that the decline in support for Netanyahu’s Likud party could be seen as another indication of the pressure he faces.
As Israel’s Oct. 27 elections approach, political parties have stepped up their campaigning.
A new election poster displayed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party on a billboard in Tel Aviv features images of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan alongside Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“They want Netanyahu to lose. Don’t let them win,” as seen in the poster.
The campaign comes amid an increase in rhetoric targeting Türkiye and President Erdoğan by Israeli politicians ahead of the Oct. 27 vote.
Çınkara also remarked that Netanyahu’s political predicament and lack of a clear policy agenda has led him to target figures such as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an effort to consolidate his electoral base.
Alongside Netanyahu’s campaign move involving Erdoğan, diplomatic pressure on Tel Aviv is also mounting over the war in Gaza. On Tuesday, Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy, met Netanyahu to discuss efforts toward a cease-fire in Gaza.
The talks, which lasted about four hours, focused on obstacles to a cease-fire and arrangements for the postwar period. According to U.S. media reports, Kushner urged Netanyahu not to obstruct efforts to reach a cease-fire agreement.
Ufuk Necat Taşçı, assistant professor of International Relations at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University also noted that Israel entered the conflict with Iran on the basis of flawed intelligence assessments, while largely failing to achieve its main objectives.
He pointed to factors including Gadi Eisenkot’s growing political prominence and internal divisions within Netanyahu’s Likud party as signs of mounting domestic pressure.
As Kushner met Netanyahu, Trump also made remarks on Gaza, pointing to Hamas’ decision to lay down its arms.
“Israel should stop bombing Gaza,” Trump said.
Trump also stated it would not be appropriate for him to become directly involved in Israel’s Oct. 27 elections, though he said he could endorse a candidate.
Furthermore, Merve Suna Özel Özcan, associate professor and the vice chair of the International Relations Department at Kırıkkale University, said anti-Türkiye rhetoric is increasingly being used as a tool for electoral mobilization in Israel, with President Erdoğan portrayed not only as a regional rival but also as an external threat that could help Netanyahu rally support and bolster his political position.
She noted that portraying Türkiye as a potential security threat is not a new development in Israel, pointing to the Nagel Committee report, which had previously raised concerns over Ankara’s growing regional influence, particularly in Syria.
“Against this backdrop, Erdoğan’s appearance in Israeli election propaganda and the targeting of potential Turkish military capabilities in Syria should not be viewed as developments that emerged overnight,” the expert said. “Rather, they are the political and military manifestations of a threat narrative that has been developing for some time.”
Recently, Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper known for its criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, published an analysis arguing that Netanyahu has portrayed Türkiye as a major threat in an apparent effort to gain an electoral advantage while also examining Ankara’s bid to acquire F-35 fighter jets from the United States.
The analysis recalled that President Erdoğan and U.S. President Trump projected a warm rapport during the NATO summit in Ankara and that Washington signaled openness to a potential F-35 sale to Türkiye. It said those developments have been met with growing concern within both the Israeli government and the Israeli public, stating: “The election is approaching, and the ‘Mr. Security’ campaign has begun. In a calculated move, Benjamin Netanyahu last week launched a blitz of interviews, phone calls and statements in an attempt to block the sale of F-35 jets to Türkiye.”
Özcan offered that the changing regional environment following the Mecca Agreement should also be taken into consideration, while cautioning against portraying the agreement as an anti-Israel alliance.
All three countries support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the 1967 borders, the expert noted.
“From Israel’s perspective, therefore, the issue is not simply the emergence of another military mechanism, but the possibility that regional powers are beginning to build their own security and stability architecture,” she emphasized.
In an interview with the UAE-based The National, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan last month discussed tensions between Türkiye and Israel, as well as the Israeli government’s regional policies.
Fidan said there was no reason for a direct confrontation between Türkiye and Israel, arguing that Netanyahu has increasingly resorted to hostile rhetoric as he seeks a new political adversary ahead of the country’s upcoming elections.
Aylin Ünver Noi, professor of International Relations and Vice Rector of Beykoz University, indicated that “This should be viewed as an attempt to group together figures who oppose Israel’s regional policies, particularly its policies toward Hamas and the Palestinians.”
Whether the strategy will prove effective remains uncertain, she said, but the choice of figures featured in the campaign is significant because they have been associated with opposition to Israeli policies on the Palestinian issue.
“Türkiye and, in this context, the New York mayor should also be assessed from this perspective,” the expert added.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said last month that the city cannot enforce the international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but called on the federal government to act.
In the video, Mamdani described the Israeli prime minister as a “war criminal” and said he is not welcome in New York City.
“It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant,” he said in a video posted on X. “The federal government, however, does and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant,” he added, referring to the International Criminal Court.
Noi also described Türkiye’s broader foreign policy as focused on promoting regional and international stability and peace, pointing to Ankara’s diplomatic engagement in several conflict zones stretching from the Balkans and the South Caucasus to conflicts in Africa.
Israel, aggression in Syria
Israel has been carrying out incursions into Syrian territory since the December 2024 since the overthrow of the ousted Bashar Assad regime, including sending troops into a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone that separated Israeli and Syrian forces in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights since 1974.
Israel, on Tuesday, carried out airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province, drawing attention from both Türkiye and regional countries.
Özcan stated that Israel’s latest strike in Syria should also be assessed within this broader context, arguing that the targeting of Abu al-Duhur Air Base could reflect Israeli concerns over Türkiye’s potential future military capabilities in the country.
“Although the base has remained largely inactive for some time, its potential future use by Türkiye suggests that Israel is concerned not only about existing threats but also about capabilities that could emerge in the future,” she said.
In a statement issued Aug. 18, the Foreign Ministry of Türkiye condemned the Israeli forces that carried out airstrikes on the military facility, located in the Idlib countryside, in the early hours of Tuesday.
“We strongly condemn the airstrikes carried out by Israel early this morning against the Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base in the countryside of Syria’s Idlib,” the ministry said.
The ministry criticized Israel for “recklessly” continuing attacks targeting Syria’s infrastructure and capabilities while violating the country’s territorial integrity and unity.
Ankara also urged the international community to take a firmer stance against Israel’s increasingly aggressive actions in Syria.
Çınkara also added that another key issue for Israel since the Oct. 7 attacks has been how to restore its eroded deterrence.
“Against this backdrop, Israel tends to perceive virtually any military activity in the region as a potential threat,” he underlined. “This has become one of the main factors driving Israel’s increasingly aggressive military posture in places such as Lebanon and Syria.”
Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also strongly condemned the Israeli airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base.
“These attacks targeting Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and infrastructure are a continuation of a reckless policy of aggression that threatens regional peace and stability,” Duran noted.
He said that Türkiye, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, would continue to support Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose any attempt that threatens peace and stability in the region.
“Israel does not want a strong, unitary state on its border because it perceives such a state as a potential security threat,” Noi argued.
She also said the latest Israeli strikes should also be assessed against efforts to rehabilitate Syrian military infrastructure and Türkiye’s close relations with the new Syrian authorities.
“Türkiye has a fundamentally different approach,” Noi stressed. “Ankara wants to see a strong, unitary Syrian state and seeks to ensure its own security through stable relations with its neighbors.”
Türkiye’s broader regional policy is based on having stable and capable states along its borders and developing cooperative relations with them, according to her.
U.S. special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said Thursday that Washington is working to establish a deconfliction mechanism among Israel, Türkiye and Syria following an Israeli strike on a Syrian air base near the Turkish border.
Referring to the possibility of a Turkish military response, Barrack said Türkiye, after observing aircraft heading toward its territory, may have “understandably prepared to respond.”
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls Tuesday with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, diplomatic sources said.
Fidan and his Qatari counterpart discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the sources.
In a separate call with al-Shaibani, Fidan discussed the latest developments in the region.
The calls came amid heightened attention on regional developments and the situation surrounding the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Fidan met with his Qatari counterpart, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, on July 19, a few days after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to the country to extend condolences for the late emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Türkiye and Qatar have steadily deepened their strategic partnership since establishing it in 2014 through high-level exchanges and bilateral agreements spanning a wide range of fields.
On the other hand, Fidan hosted his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, in Ankara on July 6 as the two neighboring countries continue to deepen relations following the collapse of the Baathist regime in 2024.
Regarding the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, Syria’s top diplomat stressed that the fighting in the region should come to an end as soon as possible. He noted that the regional tensions were also affecting Syria and said Damascus condemned Iran’s attacks against the Gulf countries.
Civil society groups supporting Palestinians will hold simultaneous events in more than 17 countries on Wednesday to call for greater humanitarian access to Gaza as the world marks World Humanitarian Day.
The global initiative, called the “Voice of Humanity,” will take place across five continents on Aug. 19, according to Osman Nuri Kabaktepe, head of the Palestine Support Platform, one of the organizations participating in the campaign.
Speaking at a news conference in Istanbul, Kabaktepe called on the public to support the initiative, saying access to food, medicine, shelter and healthcare should be regarded as a fundamental right rather than a concession.
“We are talking about a right, not a favor,” Kabaktepe noted, arguing that restrictions on humanitarian assistance have left civilians in Gaza struggling to obtain essential supplies.
Kabaktepe said tens of thousands of civilians have been killed during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and that children, women, patients and other vulnerable people continue to face difficulties accessing food and medical supplies.
He also accused Israel of failing to comply with provisions on humanitarian assistance under a cease-fire agreement, saying the arrangement envisaged the entry of at least 600 aid trucks into Gaza each day.
Kabaktepe called for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor and urged international organizations and institutions to work to ensure the delivery of aid into the Palestinian enclave.
As part of Wednesday’s campaign, supporters in Istanbul are expected to gather at Üsküdar Square at 6:30 p.m. local time.
Organizers will call for humanitarian assistance to be kept separate from political negotiations and for restrictions on aid deliveries to Gaza to be lifted.
“Humanitarian aid cannot be a matter of negotiation,” Kabaktepe underlined.
He urged international organizations and governments to increase efforts to secure humanitarian access to Gaza.
World Humanitarian Day is observed annually on Aug. 19 to recognize humanitarian workers and people affected by crises around the world.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi discussed efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and preserve the cease-fire in a phone call Monday, Turkish diplomatic sources said.
The two ministers reviewed the latest developments in ongoing negotiations concerning the reopening of the strategic waterway and the continuation of the cease-fire, according to the sources.
The two top diplomats spoke amid ongoing tensions in the region, with suspected Iranian drones targeting Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s office in Irbil on Monday.
Meanwhile, Fidan also held separate phone calls with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Nechirvan Barzani and KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday, Foreign Ministry sources said. The talks focused on the latest developments in the region, the sources added.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated newly appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham during a phone call Monday, as the two leaders pledged to deepen the strategic partnership between Türkiye and the United Kingdom, particularly in defense, security, trade and investment.
Erdoğan and Burnham discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global developments, according to a statement on the call.
Erdoğan congratulated Burnham on assuming his new post and expressed confidence that relations between Ankara and London would reach new heights in the coming period.
The president highlighted the significant progress Türkiye and the U.K. have made in cooperation across a broad range of areas, particularly in the defense industry.
He also underscored the importance of the Strategic Partnership Framework Document and the Security and Defense Partnership Document signed by the two countries, describing them as key instruments for strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Erdoğan said Ankara and London would continue working together to increase bilateral trade volume and achieve their shared objectives in investment, while building on the growing strategic partnership between the two NATO allies.
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