Politics
Türkiye says Israel using security as pretext to get ‘more land’
Türkiye’s foreign minister accused Saturday of using security concerns as cover for territorial expansion, in the latest flare-up in escalating tensions between the two regional powers.
Israel and Türkiye have been trading near-daily diplomatic barbs over a range of regional conflicts, from Israel’s war on Gaza to rising tensions linked to Iran.
“Israel is not after its own security. Israel is after more land,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in the Mediterranean resort city.
“Security is being used by the Netanyahu government as an excuse to occupy more land,” he added, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking in English at a panel discussion, Fidan said Israel had created an “illusion” internationally by portraying itself as acting purely in its own defense.
“It has become very clear, especially in recent years, that it is more than that,” he said.
From Palestinian lands including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and now extending towards Lebanon and Syria, Israel was pursuing “an onward occupation and expansionism in the region,” Fidan said.
“I think this has to stop.”
“Israel has to know that the only way to live peacefully in the region is to let other countries enjoy their own security, territorial integrity and freedom, and not to use power against them,” he added.
Türkiye and Israel have frequently been at odds, including over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza that have killed over 73,000 Palestinians and differences over Syria’s future.
Relations were severely strained in 2010 when Israeli forces raided a flotilla of ships attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, killing nine Turkish activists and one U.S. national. The flotilla was co-organised by a Turkish aid group.
‘Move back to Russia-Ukraine talks’
Fidan on Friday met the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt for talks on regional issues, including the Middle East conflict, on the sidelines of the forum.
Asked about the discussions, Fidan said regional countries needed to come together to address shared challenges.
“It is time for all of us to come together in a very mature way and own our problems,” he said, again singling out Israel as the only country seeking territorial gains.
Commenting on Türkiye’s quiet diplomacy over the Russia-Ukraine war, Fidan said those efforts had been overshadowed by tensions involving Iran.
“That has left the Russia-Ukraine war on the side,” he said.
He added that attention should shift back to Ukraine talks once tensions with Iran eased, warning that the conflict remained open to escalation.
Türkiye, which has hosted several rounds of Russia-Ukraine negotiations, is also hosting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at separate panels during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek on Monday criticized the European Parliament Türkiye rapporteur, Nacho Sanchez Amor, over remarks about the country’s judiciary, saying no one could interfere in Türkiye’s ongoing judicial proceedings or attempt to pressure its courts.
In a statement posted on social media, Gürlek said Türkiye is “an independent, sovereign and democratic state governed by the rule of law,” adding that judicial authority is exercised by independent and impartial courts on behalf of the Turkish nation.
He said the monitoring of judicial proceedings in Türkiye by international actors reflected the country’s democratic maturity and transparency, but argued that comments made about ongoing cases amounted to an unacceptable attempt to influence the judiciary.
“It is unacceptable to make statements at courthouse doors as if delivering a verdict on pending cases. Such remarks target the Turkish judiciary and seek to place judicial processes under political pressure,” Gürlek said.
The minister stressed that judicial proceedings in Türkiye are conducted in accordance with the Constitution, domestic laws, evidence presented in court and the decisions of independent judges, rather than the political agendas, ideological expectations or lobbying efforts of foreign actors.
“No one can point a finger at Turkish courts, attempt to influence ongoing trials, place the Turkish judiciary under pressure or interfere in our country’s internal affairs,” he said.
Gürlek also said Türkiye had safeguarded its national will under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against what he described as tutelary forces, coup plotters, terrorist organizations and those seeking to lecture the country on democracy from abroad.
His comments came in response to recent remarks by Sanchez Amor concerning Türkiye’s judiciary and ongoing legal proceedings.
Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler welcomed NATO defense ministers and senior alliance officials to the Ay Yıldız (Crescent and Star) Joint Headquarters in Ankara on Tuesday, using the high-profile reception to showcase Türkiye’s next-generation military command center as the country hosts the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit.
The reception was held in the Yıldız (Star) section of the still-under-construction headquarters, according to Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry. Güler greeted guests upon their arrival before delivering remarks during the event, which formed part of the two-day NATO summit in the Turkish capital.
The gathering offered one of the first major international glimpses inside the sprawling Ay Yıldız complex, an ambitious defense project that will eventually bring together the Turkish Armed Forces’ top command under one roof.
Designed to centralize Türkiye’s military leadership, the headquarters will house the National Defense Ministry, the General Staff, and the commands of the Land, Naval and Air Forces in a single integrated complex. Officials say the project will strengthen coordination, speed decision-making and enhance the country’s joint operational capabilities.
Construction of the headquarters began in 2021 following a groundbreaking ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Located in Ankara’s Etimesgut district, the 12.6 million-square-meter site is expected to accommodate approximately 15,000 personnel once completed, with the full project scheduled for completion in early 2028.
Inspired by the crescent and star on the Turkish flag, the headquarters combines symbolic architecture with advanced military infrastructure. The facility incorporates smart-building technology, environmentally sustainable features and modern command, control and communications systems designed to support both current and future operational needs.
Turkish officials describe the complex as a cornerstone of the country’s defense modernization strategy, strengthening institutional integration while improving Türkiye’s ability to contribute to NATO missions. Because of its scale and centralized command structure, it has frequently been compared to the Pentagon in the United States.
The reception came as Türkiye hosts the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, marking the second time the country has welcomed the alliance’s leaders after the 2004 summit in Istanbul.
The two-day summit, held in Ankara, has brought together leaders from NATO’s 32 member states, senior alliance officials, Asia-Pacific partners and invited guests, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Discussions are expected to focus on reinforcing allied unity amid evolving transatlantic dynamics, maintaining long-term support for Ukraine, increasing defense spending and strengthening NATO’s future military posture.
A central topic is the alliance’s proposed “NATO 3.0” vision, which envisions European allies assuming greater responsibility for conventional defense while the United States reassesses its military presence across Europe. The strategy reflects growing calls for increased burden-sharing within the alliance as NATO adapts to an increasingly complex global security environment.
The summit also includes talks on defense industrial cooperation, military readiness and the implementation of commitments made at previous alliance meetings.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday he is confident that long-standing issues between Türkiye and the United States can move toward positive outcomes, citing his close cooperation and strong relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump following their high-profile meeting at the NATO Summit in Ankara.
Erdoğan made the remarks in a social media post after holding bilateral talks with Trump at the Presidential Complex, where Türkiye welcomed the U.S. president with a full state ceremony featuring military honors, Turkish and American flags, and an official reception.
“I was pleased to host my valued friend, U.S. President Donald Trump, who paid an official visit to our country on the occasion of the NATO Ankara Summit,” Erdoğan wrote. “I believe we will achieve positive results on many of the issues on our agenda through our solidarity and strong relations.”
The meeting took place on the opening day of the July 7-8 NATO Summit, which Türkiye is hosting for the second time after the alliance gathered in Istanbul in 2004. Trump’s visit also marks the first by a sitting U.S. president to Türkiye since Barack Obama traveled to the country in 2015.
The leaders met as NATO members debated some of the alliance’s most pressing security challenges, including increased defense spending, military production, support for Ukraine, regional stability, and burden-sharing among member states. Trump has urged allies to raise defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product, making the issue one of the summit’s defining topics.
Türkiye entered the summit with growing influence inside the alliance, backed by NATO’s second-largest military, an expanding defense industry, and its strategic position between Europe, the Middle East, and the Black Sea region.
Although neither side released a detailed readout of the discussions, the meeting was widely expected to cover several key bilateral issues. Among them were defense cooperation, including the future of U.S. sanctions on Türkiye and Ankara’s long-standing interest in rejoining the F-35 fighter jet program. Trump has previously suggested he is open to advancing defense ties with Türkiye, pointing to his personal relationship with Erdoğan.
Regional security also likely featured prominently, with discussions expected to include developments in Syria, the broader Middle East, the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, counterterrorism efforts, and energy security.
Economic cooperation was another likely focus, as both governments continue exploring opportunities to expand trade and investment while strengthening collaboration in Türkiye’s rapidly growing defense manufacturing sector. Turkish-made drones and other advanced defense systems have been showcased during the summit’s Defense Industry Forum.
The meeting underscored the increasingly personal diplomacy between Erdoğan and Trump, a relationship that has endured despite years of disagreements over issues such as Türkiye’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system and differing approaches to the conflict in Syria.
Trump has repeatedly described Erdoğan as a close friend and an important strategic partner, saying their relationship played a major role in his decision to attend the Ankara summit.
Erdoğan’s message reflected optimism that their longstanding rapport can translate into tangible progress on issues that have complicated U.S.-Türkiye relations for years, while reinforcing cooperation within NATO as the alliance confronts evolving global security challenges.
The NATO summit continues with plenary sessions, bilateral meetings, and working groups involving alliance leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with additional announcements expected as discussions progress.
First Lady Emine Erdoğan on Tuesday said she was honored to welcome NATO leaders and their spouses to an official dinner held during the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara, expressing hope that the gathering would strengthen dialogue and consensus as the alliance confronts growing global challenges.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Emine Erdoğan hosted the official dinner on Monday evening at the Presidential Complex as part of the summit’s high-level program, bringing together heads of state, government leaders and their spouses attending the two-day NATO meeting.
In a statement shared on her NSosyal account, Emine Erdoğan reflected on Türkiye’s role as host and emphasized the importance of cooperation in addressing common international challenges.
“We were greatly pleased to host the heads of state and government and their esteemed spouses at the official dinner on the occasion of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, hosted by our country. At a time when efforts to find solutions to the world’s common problems are gaining momentum, I hope this important summit will further advance the culture of dialogue and consensus,” she said.
The 36th NATO Summit, held July 7-8 in Ankara, marks the second time Türkiye has hosted the alliance’s leaders following the 2004 summit in Istanbul.
The meeting has brought together leaders from NATO’s member states to discuss some of the alliance’s most pressing security and defense priorities.
Among the key issues on the agenda are increasing defense spending, expanding military production and industrial capacity, strengthening collective security, sharing defense responsibilities among allies, continuing support for Ukraine, and reinforcing alliance unity amid an increasingly volatile global security environment.
The summit has also provided a platform for a series of bilateral meetings between participating leaders. U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other NATO leaders are taking part in discussions centered on transatlantic security, European defense cooperation and regional stability.
Alongside the political meetings, the summit’s opening day featured a Defense Industry Forum, underscoring Türkiye’s expanding role in NATO’s defense industry and its position as one of the alliance’s key military contributors.
While the summit’s primary focus remains on defense and security policy, the official dinner and accompanying spouses’ program served as an important diplomatic event, highlighting the role of hospitality and informal engagement in fostering closer relations among allied nations.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara on Tuesday to attend the NATO leaders’ summit, joining heads of state and government from across the alliance for talks expected to focus on collective defense, regional security and burden sharing.
Trump’s aircraft landed at Ankara Airport, where he was welcomed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before departing for the Presidential Complex where he was expected to hold talks with the president. On Air Force One, Trump was accompanied by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This was also the inaugural flight abroad for the new presidential plane gifted by Qatar with Trump aboard. Ankara Airport, originally Etimesgut Airport, was heavily modified and had its runways expanded specifically for leaders and delegations arriving for the NATO summit.
The two-day gathering is expected to bring together leaders from NATO’s 32 member states, with discussions set to cover defense spending, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the alliance’s deterrence posture and broader security challenges.
The U.S. president will hold one-on-one talks with Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex in the capital, and U.S.-Turkish delegations will hold talks separately on the margins of the summit.
It was also reported that the agenda in the Erdoğan-Trump meeting will be diverse, but four topics will be the main items in discussions. These include the lifting of Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions, Türkiye’s readmission to the F-35 program, the U.S. sale of engines for Türkiye’s locally made fighter jet Kaan and new defense projects.
Additionally, Trump and Erdoğan are expected to discuss boosting bilateral trade volume and possible collaboration on energy.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday held talks with his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb as the latter arrived for a two-day NATO summit in the Turkish capital.
Later on Tuesday, Stubb will attend a dinner hosted by Erdoğan and first lady Emine Erdoğan in honor of the heads of state and government and their spouses.
Finland became a full member of NATO in 2023. It shares a long 1,340-kilometer (832.64-mile) border with Russia, the longest of any NATO ally, and has built its defense posture around that reality for decades, with the USSR’s successful invasion in 1939-1940 still long remembered. Its spending reflects post-Ukraine urgency and a long tradition of credible territorial defense.
Türkiye was instrumental in Finland’s membership of NATO, as well as in the admission of Sweden. Ankara initially objected to the memberships, conditioning that both countries should take more action to combat terrorism, and consented to their admission after Finland and Sweden demonstrated commitment to that extent.
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