Politics
President Erdoğan, Vucic, vow to deepen Türkiye-Serbia cooperation
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday underscored deepening economic and defense ties between Türkiye and Serbia amid regional and global uncertainties, as they signed a joint declaration to boost bilateral cooperation.
Meeting in Ankara, the two leaders voiced satisfaction with the progress achieved under the High-Level Cooperation Council, established in 2017, and highlighted its role in advancing relations through four meetings held to date.
In a joint declaration adopted following the talks, the sides welcomed the rise in bilateral trade to $3.5 billion in 2025 and stressed the importance of taking coordinated steps to reach the new $5 billion target. They agreed to convene the next meeting of the Türkiye-Serbia Joint Economic Commission at the earliest opportunity, describing it as the backbone of economic and trade relations.
The leaders reaffirmed their determination to expand cooperation across a wide spectrum, including foreign policy, trade, defense industry, culture, tourism, education, energy, transportation, connectivity, advanced technologies and environmental issues.
They reiterated their commitment to boosting defense industry collaboration, in line with understandings reached during the fourth High-Level Cooperation Council meeting held in Belgrade in October 2024.
Erdoğan and Vucic also underlined the importance of EXPO 2027 in Belgrade for regional economic growth and cooperation and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the first two meetings of the Balkan Peace Platform, held on July 26, 2025, and Jan. 23, 2026.
The two leaders welcomed the steady increase in mutual tourist numbers, noting its contribution to closer ties between the two nations, and praised Turkish construction firms for their successful infrastructure projects in Serbia, particularly in transportation and energy.
They pledged to accelerate efforts toward agreements strengthening the legal framework in advanced technologies and education and to enhance cooperation in civil aviation, culture and tourism.
Reaffirming their readiness to continue cooperation in bilateral and regional platforms to strengthen peace and stability in the Balkans, Erdoğan and Vucic emphasized the importance of regular high-level visits in further deepening ties and agreed to hold the next council meeting at the earliest opportunity.
In a joint news conference, Erdoğan said that Türkiye is working to ensure peace and stability in its region and beyond “at a time of rising global uncertainty,” stressing that Ankara “never neglects the Balkans.” The president emphasized regional engagement and highlighted Turkish efforts to promote peace and stability across the Balkans alongside broader diplomatic initiatives.
He said the two leaders assessed the impact of ongoing developments on their relationship and discussed next steps.
“At a time of rising global uncertainty, Türkiye is working to ensure peace and stability in our region and beyond, and we never neglect the Balkans,” he stressed.
During their talks, he noted that they also discussed how to maintain Balkan stability and strengthen regional economic development.
He also announced that Türkiye will participate in EXPO 2027, which Serbia will host in Belgrade, expressing confidence that the event will provide additional opportunities to strengthen economic, commercial, and cultural ties.
Erdoğan acknowledged Serbia’s strong interest in learning Turkish, saying institutions such as the Yunus Emre Institute and the Türkiye Maarif Foundation are working to meet that demand.
He said they also discussed development projects in the Sandzak region, which he described as a bridge of friendship between the two countries, and noted that Türkiye closely follows initiatives aimed at fostering growth there.
Erdoğan congratulated the Muslim community in Serbia on the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
He also highlighted Türkiye’s efforts to promote regional ownership-based initiatives, citing the second meeting of the Balkan Peace Platform hosted in Istanbul on Jan. 23, 2026, and thanked Vucic for his personal support for the platform.
Erdoğan described Vucic’s visit as highly valuable for advancing peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Serbian president hails Erdoğan’s leadership, backs stronger bilateral cooperation
For his part, Vucic praised Erdoğan’s leadership and voiced support for deeper economic, political, and security cooperation between the two countries.
“When I speak to you, I do so with the utmost respect, as a great leader, not only of Türkiye, but also of the region and indeed a leader with global influence,” he said, noting that the issues discussed and conclusions reached were “very important.”
Vucic said Türkiye is “an extremely important partner for Serbia,” highlighting its political weight as well as its role in the economy, defense industry, and technology.
Turkish influence in economic, military, technological fields
He emphasized that although Serbia is smaller in size, it highly values Türkiye’s political importance and its influence in economic, military and technological fields.
He underlined that Turkish companies are investing in various parts of Serbia, particularly in less developed southern regions, creating job opportunities.
He said some in Serbia may not fully recognize the scale of Turkish investments in less developed regions, especially in the south, where companies are contributing to employment and development.
The Serbian leader also referred to major infrastructure projects involving Turkish public institutions and private firms, including road and railway developments, and expressed hope that Erdogan’s next visit to Serbia would be his largest ever, with “very important agreements” to be signed.
He said the two sides discussed numerous infrastructure projects in detail, including highway and railway developments, and expressed hope that agreements related to a key highway project would soon be signed to help resolve transportation challenges.
Balkan Peace Platform
“I strongly support President Erdoğan’s Balkan Peace Platform initiative,” Vucic said, adding that regional cooperation is “extremely important.”
He said he would gladly accept an invitation to participate in future meetings under the Balkan Peace Platform, describing the initiative as vital for preserving regional stability.
According to him, bringing together people and economies across the Balkans is essential for long-term peace and prosperity.
He also said the two sides discussed activating a joint committee that will have an intensive agenda in the coming months, noting that further frameworks for parliamentary friendship groups are expected to be established.
For the first time, he said, the leaders discussed cooperation in military and technical fields, including collaboration between their armed forces. Strengthening such cooperation could help preserve peace and ensure a better future for both nations, he added.
Vucic thanked Türkiye for agreeing to participate in EXPO 2027 to be hosted by Serbia, calling the decision important for expanding economic and cultural ties.
He described Erdoğan as an “experienced and wise leader” who knows how to contribute to peace, and said Serbia, as a sovereign and independent country, respects leaders who seek to preserve stability.
Vucic thanked Erdoğan for his hospitality and reiterated that Serbia looks forward to hosting him soon for what he hoped would be a landmark visit.
The burning of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkish flags during Easter celebrations on the Greek Cypriot side of the divided island irked the Turkish Cypriot side. The provocative incident on Sunday was “unacceptable,” Turkish Cypriot officials said.
Greek Cypriots have been more daring recently in their anti-Turkish salvo. Most recently, a group of Greek Cypriot extremists has tried to attack Turkish Cypriots on the buffer zone, during a rally to celebrate the anniversary of EOKA, a terrorist faction known for massacres of Turkish Cypriots during the second half of 20th century.
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu said in a statement that Greek Cypriot side was still dominated by the EOKA mindset and he condemned “this fascist act.” “Attacks on our flag is an attack on our nation and it cannot be tolerated,” he said. “Turkish Cypriots have power to protect its sacred symbols as it did it in the past,” he underlined.
The incident came roughly one week after a Greek Cypriot military official openly targeted TRNC in provocative remarks, when he voiced hope to mark future Easters in “occupied homeland,” referring to the Turkish Cypriot side.
Cyprus has been split since 1974 when a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at Greece’s annexation of the island led to Türkiye’s military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence. The TRNC was founded in 1983 and is recognized only by Türkiye. The Greek Cypriot administration, widely recognized internationally, has long supported a bi-communal federation model, while the Turkish Cypriot side has increasingly emphasized full sovereignty for the TRNC. United Nations-led talks over decades have so far failed to produce a comprehensive settlement.
As talks continued between the sides, Greek Cypriots started improving relations with Israel, to the chagrin of the TRNC and guarantor Türkiye. A trilateral summit of the Greek Cypriot leader, the Greek prime minister and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last December prompted concerns for the two countries. The three sides agreed to increase their military cooperation after the summit in Israel.
Türkiye intensified diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan holding talks Monday with his Russian and Saudi counterparts, diplomatic sources said.
According to sources from the Foreign Ministry, the discussions focused on initiatives aimed at bringing an end to the conflict and advancing diplomatic solutions.
The calls are part of Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to engage regional and global actors in pursuit of a cease-fire and a lasting resolution.
Earlier on Monday, Fidan warned that Israel may disrupt the cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran. Türkiye has repeatedly emphasized the need to prevent further escalation and to prioritize diplomatic efforts amid rising tensions in the region.
The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, sparking retaliation from Tehran that has plunged the Middle East into conflict and shaken the global economy.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday hailed the “sincerity” of the United States and Iran on achieving a cease-fire. However, he warned that Israel may disrupt the process. Fidan also pointed out to Israel’s emerging “state strategy” of finding “new enemies” in the region such as Türkiye.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Fidan also commented on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The minister has been at the forefront of Türkiye’s peace diplomacy, contacting relevant parties to achieve cease-fire in US-Israel-Iran war.
“The whole world wants free international passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Hormuz should remain open through peace, using an international armed force is a challenge,” he said. He stated that Strait of Hormuz issue demonstrated that the war not merely “regional” but a conflict with global repercussions. He highlighted that the Strait was where up to 25% of natural gas and oil shipments went through. “We are facing a situation where a great logistics chain, production and industrial infrastructure is affected,” he added. “The question now is how the Strait is going to be run.” Fidan emphasized the importance of keeping international shipping routes open amid rising tensions in the Gulf. “What the entire world wants is that international transit remain free and not be obstructed,” he said. He warned that stability in the waterway cannot be achieved through forceful measures. “Our position is to reopen it through peace. There are many difficulties in intervening here with an international armed peace force,” he said.
He also noted that there was a thin line of being party to the conflict targeting Iran and keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. “But no country wants to be part of this war, Europeans in particular openly expressed this,” he stated.
On Türkiye’s stand, Fidan pointed out the stance adopted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since the beginning of the war and this was “the policy of keeping Türkiye out of war.” He said the situation in Hormuz had a significant impact on the global markets and Türkiye made every contribution to resolve the issue. The minister, however, added that Türkiye was not “very much dependent on Strait of Hormuz in terms of energy security, energy supplies.” “Share of natural gas in electricity production dropped and share of renewable energy sources dramatically increased in past two decades. But we feel the indirect impact of the situation, especially on pricing. Energy supplies are delivered smoothly but pricing poses a problem. This may be a burden on the economy in the long run,” he warned.
Fidan also warned about Israel’s actions in Syria and Lebanon. On incursions into Syria, Fidan noted that it also posed a major risk for Türkiye. He said Israeli attacks in Lebanon resembled what it has done in Gaza, underlining that it engaged in a depopulation campaign by destroying housing and infrastructure.
Türkiye’s top diplomat said such negotiations start out with maximalist demands, but the sides usually try to find common ground with the support of mediators. “We only hope that they will have a lasting intention to reach a cease-fire and sustain it. As far as I can see, they are sincere on this,” he said. Fidan noted they were in touch with the sides after the talks in Islamabad, and throughout Sunday, they held talks on assessing the point of deadlock in the talks and what Türkiye can do to resolve it. He pointed out the “Israel factor.” “We should always consider what Israel can do to disrupt it. We always highlighted this to the U.S. side,” he stated.
On the contents of the talks, Fidan said it should be acknowledged that it might not have been technically possible to agree upon a final document within a timetable of 15 days, based on the topics discussed at the Islamabad meeting. He said that if any progress can be made, the sides can agree upon an additional cease-fire for continuing talks for a time period between 45 and 60 days. “If the talks turn to the nuclear issue with an all-or-nothing approach, especially on the issue of uranium enrichment, the talks can hit a serious obstacle. Still, this may be overcome with the support of mediators, other countries,” he stressed. He warned that military approaches to securing key global sea lanes would be highly complex and urged diplomacy to ensure uninterrupted maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint.
Israel seeks enemies
He further commented on Israel’s regional posture, saying: “We see that Israel may seek to designate Türkiye as a new adversary after Iran, as it cannot sustain itself without an enemy.” “After Iran, Israel cannot live without an enemy,” Fidan underlined.
“We see that not only Netanyahu’s administration but also some figures in the opposition, though not all, are seeking to declare Türkiye the new enemy,” he said. “This is a new development in Israel, turning into a state strategy,” he added.
His statements follow social media posts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz who targeted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in insulting remarks. Statements of Israeli officials, apparently aimed to encourage the opposition to take action against Erdoğan, backfired. Both government officials and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) were united in their condemnation of Israeli officials’ remarks, standing for Erdoğan against what they described as the words of perpetrators of genocide in Gaza.
On a question whether Israel shifted gears in its approach to Türkiye and whether it was a permanent policy, Fidan answered “both.” “Israel has an inferiority complex due to our president’s political leadership in the region. They cannot admit how Türkiye elevated its role in the region with its strategic balancing. They cannot steer Türkiye,” he said. He said many countries oppose Israel’s policies toward Palestine and Lebanon but Türkiye had a different diplomatic approach, standing out among others. “Our president’s global leadership, his close ties with leaders, Türkiye’s network of interaction, all of these affect Israel’s rhetoric to create illusions about the truth. In this context, it is understandable that they attack our president, our political elite,” he said.
Risks in Syria
Turning to Syria, Fidan described the situation as a major security concern for Turkiye. “We see a major problem area in Syria. This is a big risk for us,” he said, referring to Israel’s attacks. He added that Israel’s current focus on its confrontation with Iran could delay but not rule out its future moves in Syria. “Because of the war underway in Iran, it is not doing certain things (against Syria), but that does not mean it will not. When the time comes, it will want to do it,” he said.
Following the collapse of the Baathist regime in 2024, Israel declared the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between the two sides no longer valid, moved into the Syrian buffer zone and has since carried out near-daily strikes and incursions. Israeli forces target Syrian territory almost daily, carrying out ground incursions, particularly in rural areas of Quneitra and Daraa in southern Syria, detaining civilians, setting up checkpoints to search and question passersby, and damaging agricultural land. Türkiye views it as part of Israel’s aggressive expansionism in the region and is worried that it may fuel instability in post-civil war Syria. Damascus is already trying to stay away from the spillover of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war.
Fidan also criticized regional cooperation formats involving Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration and Israel, arguing they heighten tensions rather than ease them. “Their cooperation does not bring more trust, it brings more mistrust. It brings more problems and war,” he said. He also called for a wider regional security framework based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity across the Middle East.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the protection of the family institution as a matter of national security, warning that threats to family values could undermine the foundation of Turkish society and the state.
Speaking at an event organized by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party)’s women’s branch, Erdoğan said the family remains the “core pillar” of society and must be safeguarded against growing global pressures.
“We see the protection of the family and family values as a matter of national security and survival. Any attack on the family is also an attack on the backbone of the nation and the state,” he said.
He warned that even small disruptions within the structure linking individuals, families and the nation could lead to long-term and difficult-to-repair consequences, stressing that attacks on the family should be seen as direct threats to the stability of the state.
Erdoğan said the government has accelerated efforts in recent years to strengthen family structures, introducing new policies and support mechanisms. These include the establishment of the Population Policies Board in 2024 and the designation of 2025 as the “Year of the Family,” alongside financial support programs aimed at young couples.
He added that Türkiye plans to expand these initiatives further under its “Family and Population Decade” strategy covering the 2026–2035 period, focusing on social policy, education and long-term demographic stability.
Highlighting modern challenges, Erdoğan pointed to addiction as one of the most serious threats facing families today. He said issues, such as online gambling, social media dependency, tobacco use and substance abuse are damaging households and eroding social cohesion.
He also warned about emerging risks linked to digital technologies, including screen addiction, algorithm-driven content consumption and harmful online environments that expose children to cyberbullying and inappropriate material.
Citing global data, Erdoğan noted that over 1.25 billion adults use tobacco worldwide and that millions die each year from related illnesses. He added that the age of smoking initiation in Türkiye has declined in recent years, while online gambling is becoming an increasing concern, particularly among younger populations.
The president said the government has taken steps to combat illegal betting and gambling through a national action plan launched in November, adding that early indicators suggest progress in bringing the issue under control.
Erdoğan reiterated that Türkiye will continue to prioritize family protection policies, emphasizing that safeguarding family values is essential not only for social stability but also for the country’s long-term resilience and security.
The Spanish port of Barcelona is set to see off activists of the second Global Sumud Flotilla later on Sunday.
Activists from Türkiye will soon join the flotilla, which aims to break the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian enclave Gaza, where tens of thousands of people have been slaughtered by Israel since 2023 and many more have been left to survive on limited means.
About 30 boats planned to leave the Mediterranean port city laden with medical aid and other supplies on the Global Sumud Flotilla, and more vessels are expected to join along the route toward Palestine.
Sümeyra Akdeniz Ordu, one of the Turkish activists and organizers of the flotilla, told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Sunday that they expanded their strategy this time and it was not only about breaking the blockade through a sea route. “We will also launch a land convoy and hold a congress on April 22. She said “the unity at sea and land” will launch pressure on governments that endorsed Israel’s genocide. Ordu is the only Turkish organizer of the flotilla and said their numbers will be higher this time.
“In our first attempt, we achieved some concrete results. For instance, Palestinian fishermen were able to fish off the coast of Gaza after a long time because Israelis were too distracted as they were busy with stopping us. Then, we witnessed a cease-fire even if it was not fully honored. Moreover, we had the support of Palestinians who invited us again. We are doing this because they expect us,” she stated.
The Israeli military halted the roughly 40 boats assembled by the same organization last October as they attempted to reach blockaded Gaza, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 other participants.
Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for its more than 2 million residents. Yet Palestinians and international aid bodies say supplies reaching the territory are still insufficient, despite a cease-fire reached in October, which included guarantees of increased aid.
Liam Cunningham, an actor who starred in the “Game of Thrones” television series who is supporting the flotilla but not taking part, told Reuters: “Every kilogram of aid that is on these ships is a failure because all these people on these ships giving up their time to help their fellow human beings are doing what their governments are legally obliged to do.”
The World Health Organization has said that even during armed conflicts, states are obligated under international humanitarian law to ensure that people are able to reach medical care in safety.
“This is a mission that aims to open a humanitarian corridor so the aid delivery organizations can arrive,” Saif Abukeshak, a Palestinian activist and member of the flotilla’s organising committee, told Reuters.
Speaking at a news conference in Ankara earlier this week, Zeynel Abidin Özkan, a Turkish activist who took part in the first flotilla, said that number of boats will increase this time. “More boats will join them in Italian, Greek and Turkish territorial waters,” he said.
Created in 2025 by NGO representatives, activists and volunteers from various countries, the flotilla last sailed in September with 42 boats and 462 people. This time, it will have at least 70 boats and nearly 1,000 volunteers from 70 countries.
One of the flotilla’s spokespersons, Pablo Castilla, stated that the main goal of the initiative is “to condemn international complicity in what is happening in Gaza, demand accountability, and open a humanitarian corridor by sea and land.” Castilla expressed concern that international attention on Gaza has declined due to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Israel’s actions in Lebanon. “Israel has intensified the blockade on Gaza, restricted aid entry, expanded settlements, and accelerated land confiscation,” he said.
Other organizers emphasized that they are acting within the law and that the mission is being coordinated with Palestinian civil society organizations, legal experts, politicians and specialists in maritime security and media strategy. This year, the participation of well-known NGOs such as Greenpeace and Open Arms, along with increased support from the Barcelona municipality, stands out.
During the flotilla’s previous attempt in September, Israeli forces stopped the vessels in what organizers described as an unlawful intervention, boarded them, detained volunteers and took them to Israel.
Israeli naval forces initially boarded several boats about 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, cutting communications and blocking signals. They also used drones to interfere, disrupting emergency signals and live broadcasts of the boarding.
The Gaza Strip needs around 450 tons of flour daily, while only around 200 tons are currently available, Gaza’s government media office said Sunday.
Israel is intensifying a policy of “engineered starvation” in Gaza by restricting flour supplies, the office said in a statement.
Despite the cease-fire agreement that allows the entry of 600 trucks per day, Israel allows only 38% of pre-war supply, it added.
The office said the crisis worsened after World Central Kitchen halted its flour support, as the U.S.-based charity previously provided 20 to 30 tons daily, while the World Food Program reduced its supplies from 300 to 200 tons per day, adding that several other organizations have also suspended their bread and flour programs to the enclave.
About 1.9 million people in Gaza, out of a population of 2.4 million, remain displaced and live in harsh conditions in worn-out tents after their homes were destroyed during Israel’s two-year war.
Despite the cease-fire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, living conditions have not significantly improved, amid Israel’s failure to allow the agreed levels of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies and shelter materials.
The war in Gaza has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured about 172,000 others, and has caused widespread destruction affecting around 90% of civilian infrastructure.
Few people in Türkiye were familiar with Muhoozi Kainerugaba, head of Ugandan Armed Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni. It all changed after a series of tweets he fired up over the past two days.
The general, who fashioned out his tweets with occasional all caps like U.S. President Donald Trump, threatened to cut off all ties with Türkiye and asked for $1 billion from the country as well as “most beautiful wife” within one month in now-deleted rants on Twitter.
Many on Turkish social media wondered the reasoning behind tweets while Ankara has been quiet on Kainerugaba.
Within hours, Turks flooded his social media accounts with insults and some even called him to dare to attack Türkiye.
A Twitter user pointed out that Uganda’s gross domestic product (GDP) was smaller than Izmir, Türkiye’s third-largest city while another social media user said that Uganda “with its two tanks and 5,000 pistols” cannot threaten Türkiye.
Turkish Foreign Ministry did not comment on the tweets while Kainerugaba posted another tweet on Saturday, saying he loved Turkish people despite “insults.” He also retweeted Adonia Ayebare, who tweeted that general’s tweets were reflection of “dissatisfaction with the way Uganda’s serious concerns have been handled.”
“There should be no cause for alarm,” Ayebare assured.
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