Politics
Türkiye’s support to Syria will continue, Erdoğan tells al-Sharaa
Türkiye’s support to Syria, particularly the fight against terrorism, will continue, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Sunday.
Erdoğan and al-Sharaa discussed the latest developments in Syria in a phone call, the Turkish Communications Directorate said in a statement.
“Complete removal of terrorism from Syrian territory is necessary for both Syria and the entire region,” Erdoğan said.
Earlier on Sunday, al-Sharaa announced a comprehensive Cease-fire and Full Integration Agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF, outlining sweeping measures to restore state authority in the country’s northeast. The SDF is dominated by the terrorist group YPG, the Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK.
Türkiye is a major supporter of post-Assad Syria and views the YPG as a threat to its own national security. Ankara has hinted that it may resort to a military option in Syria as it did in the past to thwart the YPG’s ambitions, but repeatedly called for dialogue to resolve the dispute between the YPG and Damascus. When the YPG insisted on not following up on the deal to integrate into the Syrian army, Damascus launched a sweeping offensive last Friday to take back areas occupied by the YPG since the civil war. Over the weekend, the army, backed by tribes launching an uprising against the YPG, retained control in the west of the River Euphrates, from Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour to Deir Hafir.
Ankara has campaigned for the removal of terrorist groups from its southern border for a long time, accusing foreign powers of giving them room in Syria. After the declaration of the deal on Sunday, Turkish social media was awash with messages praising Erdoğan’s remarks 11 years ago, where he told an audience in Istanbul that Türkiye would not allow a state by terrorist groups to be established in northern Syria, in reference to the YPG.
National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalın met with Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli, the Libyan government said in a statement on Thursday.
The meeting addressed issues of mutual interest, as well as recent local and regional developments.
The two sides emphasized the importance of strengthening coordinated international efforts to support Libya’s political process, it said.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to continued consultation and coordination to promote stability in the region.
In August, Kalın held a rare meeting with putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar in Libya’s Benghazi.
Libya has been divided since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011, with rival administrations in the east and west vying for power. Türkiye remains a key supporter of the Tripoli-based government while simultaneously expanding contacts with eastern authorities.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al Sudani on Thursday, discussing bilateral relations as well as regional and global developments, according to a statement made by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications.
The two leaders reviewed steps to further enhance cooperation between Türkiye and Iraq, with a particular focus on trade and broader economic engagement.
Erdoğan underscored that Ankara would continue taking concrete steps to deepen ties across multiple sectors, stressing that stronger cooperation serves the mutual interests of both neighboring countries.
The president also emphasized the importance of intensifying collaboration in the fight against terrorism, noting that closer coordination would benefit both Türkiye and Iraq and contribute to regional stability.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining dialogue and strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
Germany is hosting NATO’s largest exercise of the year, Steadfast Dart 26, with Türkiye emerging as the biggest contributor among participating allies.
The drills, which began in January and will run through March, bring together approximately 10,000 troops from 10 European countries. Türkiye deployed around 2,000 personnel, traveling some 6,450 kilometers (4,010 miles) to take part in the exercise.
Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command in the Netherlands and director of the exercise, praised the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) for what he described as the most significant contribution to this year’s maneuvers.
“Türkiye’s contribution cannot be emphasized enough,” Gerhartz told BBC Türkçe, highlighting the deployment of the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, which docked at the German port of Emden with its accompanying task force and ground units. He added that the Turkish military made “by far the largest contribution” to Steadfast Dart 26.
Gerhartz also underscored the broader meaning of the drill, saying, “The fact that these countries are sending troops to Central Europe is a strong indication of unity within the alliance and that every inch of NATO territory will be defended if necessary.” He described the exercise as a clear demonstration that allied forces are ready to move rapidly and operate together across land, sea and air domains.
As part of its NATO commitments, Türkiye assumed command of the Amphibious Task Force and the Landing Force Command within the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) on July 1, 2025. In addition to TCG Anadolu, Türkiye sent the logistics support ship TCG Derya and the frigates TCG Istanbul and TCG Oruçreis to participate in the naval components of the drill.
Elements of the 66th Mechanized Infantry Brigade also joined the exercise, with images of Turkish soldiers posing alongside Turkish-flagged armored vehicles in Germany widely shared.
Steadfast Dart 26 focuses on the rapid deployment capabilities of the ARF, a multinational force established in 2024 to enhance deterrence and ensure swift reinforcement of NATO territory in times of crisis.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Ankara on Thursday, as the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and a range of regional security issues, underscoring deepening cooperation between the Balkan neighbors.
Talks between Erdoğan and Vucic focused on strengthening friendly relations, as well as steps to support regional peace and stability. According to Turkish officials, discussions covered developments in the Balkans, the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in Gaza and recent developments in Iran.
Ankara has emphasized the importance of enhancing regional solidarity and cooperation in the face of shared challenges, highlighting diplomacy and dialogue as central tools for stability.
The leaders also reviewed efforts to expand cooperation in areas including the defense industry, which has become an increasingly prominent component of bilateral ties. Officials said both sides assessed the outcomes of joint initiatives aimed at broadening collaboration across strategic sectors.
Moreover, economic relations have shown significant growth. Trade volume between Türkiye and Serbia rose by 35% in 2024 compared with the previous year, reaching $3 billion.
The two presidents have set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion.
Turkish direct investments in Serbia have also expanded sharply, rising from $1 million 12 years ago to $405 million. Turkish companies operating in Serbia employ approximately 10,000 people, according to official data.
During Erdoğan’s visit to Serbia on Oct. 11, 2024, the fourth meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council was held under the co-chairmanship of the two presidents, reflecting the institutionalization of bilateral ties.
Vucic has previously expressed a desire to build the strongest possible relations with Türkiye, describing current ties as a “golden age” in relations between the two countries.
Thursday’s summit was seen by officials as a significant step in reinforcing diplomatic and economic bonds, as well as contributing to broader regional stability at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
Serbia is regarded as one of Türkiye’s key partners in the Balkans, and relations between the two countries have expanded in recent years through frequent high-level contacts and growing economic engagement.
Türkiye and Nigeria share a common vision on counterterrorism and other key issues across Africa, Turkish Ambassador to Abuja Mehmet Poroy said during an interview on Thursday.
“Nigeria is critically important to any country pursuing an Africa-focused policy,” Poroy said while speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), citing its role as West Africa’s “leading” country, the largest economy in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the fourth-largest on the continent, with a population surpassing 230 million.
According to Poroy, Abuja holds particular importance for Ankara as both nations confront similar security threats. Nigeria continues to battle terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, mirroring Türkiye’s long-standing fight against various terrorist organizations.
Ankara remains committed to supporting Nigeria by sharing expertise, resources and capabilities, the ambassador said, highlighting ongoing cooperation against the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) as a key pillar of the partnership.
“Nigeria’s stability is vital not only to West Africa but to the entire continent,” he stressed.
Describing the relationship in strategic terms, Poroy said Türkiye and Nigeria are “two countries that play strong, game-changing roles in their respective regions.”
Talks during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first-ever visit to Türkiye focused on enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors, particularly security and counterterrorism, “areas where Nigeria is most in need of cooperation at the moment,” he said.
Tinubu’s Jan. 27 visit, which followed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s trip to Nigeria in October 2021, underscored both governments’ “strong will” to advance ties. Nine agreements were signed, spanning security, education, and trade, with an emphasis on swift implementation for mutual benefit.
“We can say that we have entered a new phase in military cooperation, with closer coordination expected,” Poroy said, noting Ankara’s readiness to bolster Nigeria’s counterterrorism capacity.
Emphasizing Ankara’s “win-win” approach in Africa, he said it prioritizes respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty while opposing external interventions, a stance closely aligned with Nigeria’s commitment to “African solutions to African problems.”
Both governments recently took a joint position against Israel’s recognition of Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, issuing statements in support of Mogadishu, including within the framework of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), he added.
“Türkiye’s stabilization efforts in Somalia are also highly valued by Nigeria, and that support carries particular weight given Nigeria’s standing as one of the continent’s leading nations,” Poroy said.
Support for Abuja’s leadership within ECOWAS, particularly in promoting democracy and regional peace, remains firm, he added, voicing backing for intensified dialogue and cooperation across West Africa.
During Erdoğan’s 2021 visit to Nigeria, three memorandums of understanding were signed in energy, mining and hydrocarbons, establishing a legal framework for cooperation. Working groups have since convened to develop models expected to translate into concrete projects.
Rich in solid minerals, Nigeria aims not only to extract resources but also to process them domestically, the ambassador said.
“Türkiye can share its capabilities in this area with Nigeria, and we expect concrete steps to be taken soon,” he added.
Significant potential also exists in electricity production and distribution. Turkish companies already operating in Nigeria are expanding their footprint, while interest in the country’s oil and natural gas sectors continues to grow amid efforts to deepen engagement.
A key outcome of Tinubu’s visit was the signing of a joint statement establishing the Joint Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee (JETCO), designed to remove trade and investment barriers, Poroy said.
Growing Turkish investment in Nigeria’s infrastructure sector is expected to accelerate through larger-scale projects, supported by agreements to prevent double taxation and promote and protect investments.
The $5 billion bilateral trade target remains central to the economic agenda.
“With JETCO becoming operational, we expect our bilateral trade, which is currently around $1 billion, to increase toward the $5 billion target,” Poroy said.
“We are eager to deepen our political ties and sustain comprehensive consultations on bilateral and regional issues.”
Tufan Erhürman , the president of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said Thursday that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged to maintain more frequent contact following their recent meeting, calling the move a significant step in ongoing diplomatic engagement.
Speaking at a press conference at Ercan Airport, Erhürman evaluated his Feb. 11 meeting with Guterres in New York, noting that it was their first face-to-face meeting.
He recalled that after being elected president, he sent a letter responding to Guterres’ congratulatory message, expressing his wish to arrange a meeting at the earliest possible time. Noting that Guterres responded faster than expected, Erhürman said they held a meeting lasting about one hour and 10 minutes on Feb. 11.
“First and foremost, we intended to once again convey our people’s will for a solution to the secretary-general. We did so. Secondly, from the very beginning of the meeting process, we put on the table our four-point methodology proposal, which we had shared with the public and the international community long before the election period,” Erhürman said.
“Various discussions and comments were made about this four-point methodology. We had the opportunity to explain face-to-face what these points mean for us and what exactly we intended with them,” he added.
As a third issue, he said he conveyed his views on confidence-building measures discussed in Geneva and New York and “taken over by us, as well as additional proposals presented by both us and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides.”
Erhürman reiterated his view that meetings in the 5+1 format are not well suited for discussing confidence-building measures, which should instead be finalized during talks between the two leaders in Lefkoşa (Nicosia), the TRNC’s capital.
He said he observed no decline in Guterres’ interest in developments related to the island, adding that the secretary-general continues to closely monitor all progress.
Erhürman noted that the meeting, lasting nearly twice as long as planned, also demonstrated Guterres’ level of interest.
He said he briefed Guterres on proposals for new crossing points between the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot Administration. He emphasized that Guterres promised more frequent contact, though the format, whether in-person or otherwise, was not yet decided.
Erhürman added that past developments had weakened trust and communication between the sides. In addition, he said he explained that agreements the Greek Cypriot administration concluded with various countries on security and energy matters were also factors reducing trust, as they largely exclude Turkish Cypriots and Türkiye.
He stressed that these agreements concern areas involving Turkish Cypriots’ sovereign rights – including security, maritime jurisdictions, hydrocarbons, energy, trade routes and European Union citizenship – and therefore undermine confidence.
Erhürman said the secretary-general emphasized that a solution, stability and peace in Cyprus would contribute to lasting regional stability and peace and that he would therefore continue to follow the issue closely.
He also said he held a lengthy phone call the same evening with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during which they discussed the meeting, and Fidan briefed him on the Türkiye-Greece dialogue process.
Erhürman-Guterres meeting
Erhürman met Guterres in New York on Feb. 11.
The meeting took place in a positive atmosphere, according to a statement from the TRNC Presidency.
The talks addressed current and regional developments, primarily the Cyprus issue. Erhürman conveyed his previously announced four-point methodology for the solution process and the latest developments regarding confidence-building measures.
The TRNC president also emphasized that the unjust and unlawful isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people must be lifted without further delay.
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