Politics
Ankara gears up for historic NATO summit as schedule confirmed
The timetable for the July 6-8 NATO summit in Ankara was confirmed. The 36th edition of the event is a highly anticipated occasion for members of the military alliance, which appears to be falling out with the top contributor, the United States. President Donald Trump is among the most prominent guests of the event, while host President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to showcase Türkiye’s influence in the changing global order.
The summit will be inaugurated by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte with a news conference ahead of bilateral talks and main sessions. Rutte will speak to journalists at the International Media Center set up at the Presidential Complex at 3:45 p.m. local time on Monday.
On Tuesday, NATO Defense Industry Forum (NSDIF) will bring together representatives of member states and the defense industry at ATO Congresium, an international convention and exhibition center. Mark Rutte will inaugurate the forum at 10 a.m. local time. NATO’s official website says this will be the occasion where “Big Reveal” announcement will be made. Along with Rutte, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler will make keynote speeches at the forum. Member states and defense firms are also scheduled to sign various deals during the forum. Turkish media outlets reported that Rutte will also make a joint press statement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the forum.
At 5:30 p.m. local time, NATO’s foreign ministers will meet the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), a security partnership forum established in 2004 for enhancing bilateral cooperation with non-NATO members, particularly the Middle Eastern countries. The said countries were among those most affected by the U.S.-Israel-Iran war. The meeting will take place at the presidential complex. It will be followed by a social reception for NATO defense ministers at “Ayyıldız Headquarters,” the newly inaugurated headquarters of the Turkish army in the shape of a crescent and star.
At 6:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, President Erdoğan and first lady Emine Erdoğan will host heads of state and government and their spouses for a reception and dinner at the presidential complex. NATO-Ukraine Council foreign ministers will also meet on Tuesday as part of the summit, before a working dinner of defense ministers at the presidential complex.
Wednesday’s program will start with doorstep statements by Rutte and heads of state and government. The summit’s official welcoming ceremony will be held at 10:45 a.m. local time on Wednesday, and it will be followed by a family photo of participating leaders. Leaders will then head to a meeting. The summit will be concluded with a news conference by Rutte at 3 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
Burhanettin Duran, head of the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate, said in a social media post on Sunday that the summit would focus on the steps taken regarding the decision to increase defense investments, the alliance’s deterrence and defense efforts, “with a 360-degree point of view.” Duran said leaders would exchange views on threats, risks and challenges to the Euro-Atlantic region, the situation in Ukraine and developments “in the south of the alliance,” referring to the Middle East gripped by Israel’s expansionist campaign and the U.S.-Israel-Iran war that jeopardized fragile stability in the region. Duran said President Erdoğan was expected to hold bilateral talks with each leader attending the summit.
The summit is regarded as a critical turning point both for the future of the Alliance and for the shaping of the global security architecture. Held within the framework of the new strategic concept referred to as “NATO 3.0,” the Ankara summit is considered by many leaders and security experts to be one of the most significant summits in NATO’s history. It is expected to become the largest NATO summit ever held in terms of participation at the leaders’ level. President Trump was expected to skip the event as he often complained about insufficient contributions to the alliance by European members. Yet, he recently reaffirmed his participation, underlining that he wouldn’t attend if it wasn’t for Erdoğan.
To cover the summit, approximately 3,000 journalists, television crews, photojournalists, digital media representatives, and international broadcasting organizations from around the world have applied for accreditation. As a result, the summit is also set to become the NATO summit with the highest number of international media representatives ever recorded. Seven hotels have been designated in Ankara to accommodate international media representatives, while transportation will be provided by 45 buses. The media center has been equipped with comprehensive technical infrastructure, including approximately 1,800 workstations, nearly 100 live broadcast positions (54 of them permanent), interview areas, television studios, press mixers, wayfinding systems, 40 editing rooms, IPTV broadcasting facilities, and announcement screens. These facilities are described as the most comprehensive working environment ever created for media representatives at a NATO summit.
The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications will deploy a total of 850 personnel throughout the summit, 500 at the main venues and 350 for side events and crisis communications. Public broadcaster TRT, under the coordination of the Directorate of Communications, will oversee the summit’s international broadcasting operations. TRT will cover the summit with 96 cameras, 18 live broadcasting vehicles, and 26 separate broadcast locations. This operation is expected to become the most extensive broadcasting effort ever conducted for a NATO summit.
Throughout summit week, promotional activities will be carried out at approximately 5,000 outdoor advertising locations across Ankara. Billboards, digital displays, and other outdoor media will feature visuals prepared under four different concepts. In addition to NATO Summit messaging, the campaign will include content highlighting Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency, the country’s defense industry products, and the GoTürkiye tourism promotion campaign. This initiative is expected to represent the most comprehensive city branding campaign ever organized in connection with a NATO summit.
For summit security, a total of 56,288 personnel will be deployed, including 48,841 officers from the General Directorate of Security and 7,447 personnel from the Gendarmerie General Command. In addition, 639 personnel will conduct round-the-clock cyber patrol operations to combat cybercrime and enhance cybersecurity.
Participants will travel through three separate airports: Esenboğa Airport, Ankara Airport (an updated version of the Etimesgut military airport renovated and expanded exclusively for the summit), and Mürted Air Base, which will handle cargo aircraft operations.
Diplomatic stage for Türkiye
The summit is expected not only to bring together world leaders but also to serve as a diplomatic stage highlighting Türkiye’s growing influence within NATO. The summit is expected to simultaneously showcase Türkiye’s military contributions, defense industry, crisis management capabilities, and leadership diplomacy.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said that Türkiye is an important NATO ally with strong military capabilities and a strategic geographic position, adding that Lithuania highly values Türkiye’s solidarity with and contribution to security in the Baltic region.
In a written response to questions by Anadolu Agency (AA) ahead of the summit, Ruginiene said she expected the summit to reaffirm transatlantic unity and all allies’ strong commitment to fulfilling their obligations under the Washington Treaty. “In this context, increasing defense spending and developing defense capabilities are of great importance to ensure a credible deterrence and defense posture,” she said. Ruginiene said Russia remained the most direct long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security and that the Russia-Ukraine war had further worsened Europe’s security environment, including for neighboring countries. The prime minister also condemned recent drone incursions from Russia and Belarus into Baltic airspace that affected NATO’s eastern flank.
Ruginiene said Lithuania expected the Ankara summit to make concrete progress toward the goal of allocating 5% of gross domestic product to defense, particularly by strengthening air defense capabilities to deter Russia and ensure a credible defense posture. “Strengthening the defense industry is among our priorities. Allies need to increase production capacity, accelerate innovation, and keep costs under control,” she said. Ruginiene said continued military support for Ukraine remained vital and that Kyiv had gained momentum on the battlefield through the contributions of all NATO allies. “Our message must be clear. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, its military buildup and hybrid activities against allies have fundamentally changed Europe’s security environment,” she said. “There is no alternative to increasing defense budgets in this new threat environment. Security cannot be taken for granted,” she added.
Ruginiene said higher defense spending also created new economic and commercial opportunities for countries.
“As European allies assume greater responsibility, the transatlantic bond remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security. Even if the U.S. role changes, it will remain indispensable and cannot be replaced by any other actor,” she said.
The prime minister said the concept of a “European pillar” within NATO was, to some extent, misleading, stressing that every ally must meet its commitments to the alliance, whether on defense spending or capability targets.
“NATO is an integrated structure in which every ally matters. Strong allies mean a strong NATO,” she said.
Ruginiene said Lithuania remained a committed supporter of deeper transatlantic cooperation and a stronger NATO, adding that it shared U.S. concerns over a more balanced distribution of responsibilities within the alliance.
She welcomed Europe’s determination to strengthen its defense readiness after years of insufficient investment.
“A stronger and more capable Europe will make a positive contribution to global and transatlantic security and will further strengthen NATO,” she said.
Ruginiene said European Union defense initiatives and increased national defense spending would significantly boost Europe’s conventional military strength.
“The alliance will gain the military capacity needed to protect European and transatlantic interests and provide stronger deterrence against external threats,” she said.
On Türkiye’s role in the alliance, Ruginiene said: “Türkiye is an important NATO ally with strong military capabilities and a strategic geographic position. We highly appreciate Türkiye’s solidarity with and contribution to the security of the Baltic region.”
“At a time when the security environment is becoming increasingly challenging, particularly because of Russia’s military buildup and hybrid activities against allies, unity and effective cooperation are more important than ever,” she added.
Ruginiene said every ally had an important role in strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities, increasing its resilience and ensuring the alliance remained prepared for all threats, whether conventional or hybrid.
Onno Eichelsheim, the Netherlands’ Chief of Defense, says Türkiye’s role in NATO will grow larger after the summit. Speaking to AA, Eichelsheim stated that they would need Türkiye as the United States retracts “some capabilities.”
Eichelsheim said he was impressed by the level of capability achieved by the Turkish defense industry and sees strong potential for cooperation between the two countries in this field.
Pointing out that the Ankara summit will mark several important milestones, Eichelsheim said: “The most important outcome that must emerge from this summit is that we deliver on the 3.5% commitment we made in The Hague. This summit should provide more detail and greater clarity about the next steps.”
Noting that his country’s preparations could serve as an example, Eichelsheim added: “We have prepared a White Paper and demonstrated our willingness to meet NATO’s 5% defense spending target.” Eichelsheim emphasized that another key issue is for European countries to begin assuming greater responsibility within NATO by filling the capability gaps left by the United States as it reduces certain contributions to the Alliance. “I believe this is another important turning point. From this perspective, the fact that Europeans are genuinely beginning to take on greater responsibility within the Alliance can be regarded as a historic moment.”
Referring to Türkiye’s role within the Alliance, Eichelsheim continued: “I believe Türkiye plays a very important role. It has always played a significant role within the Alliance. Because of its geographical location, it is the guardian of NATO’s southeastern flank. Although it performs this role together with some of its partners, Türkiye is the most important country in that region. Türkiye has NATO’s second-largest armed forces. As the United States withdraws some of its capabilities, we will also need Türkiye to help fill those gaps. Therefore, Türkiye’s role within NATO will become even greater. I have also seen that Türkiye is very willing to take on this role not only in its own region but in other parts of NATO as well. Türkiye has played a very important role up to now, and that role will become even more significant in the future.”
‘Allies in Ankara’
Türkiye’s leading think tank, the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), will collaborate with the Munich Security Conference for “Allies in Ankara,” a series of events at historic Ankara Palas simultaneously with the summit. The events will bring together ministers, high-ranking officials, and security experts from NATO member countries and other states.
For two days, the event hub will host a dynamic discussion and connection platform through a variety of panels, roundtable discussions, and side events. Burhanettin Duran is also expected to make a keynote speech at the event.
The “Looking Ahead to the Ankara Summit” event will host Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler in a session moderated by MSC CEO Benedikt Franke.
Other sessions include: “Beyond the Post-Cold War Order: Navigating an Era of Strategic Uncertainty,” “Steps Toward a Sustainable Future in the MENA-Gulf Region,” “Inside the Architecture: Türkiye’s Defense Industry as a Structural Asset for NATO” and “NATO’s Ankara Moment: From Consolidation to Burden Sharing.”
Türkiye established four specialized subcommittees Monday as a newly formed coordination board held its first meeting to oversee the implementation of legislation underpinning the country’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative.
The National Solidarity and Integration Coordination Board convened at the Presidential Complex in Ankara under the chairmanship of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, with discussions focusing on interagency coordination and the implementation of the process.
The meeting was attended by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief İbrahim Kalın, Presidential Secretary-General Hakkı Susmaz and National Security Council (MGK) Secretary-General Okay Memiş.
The board was established under Law No. 7595 on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, which entered into force Aug. 18.
In a statement following the meeting, officials said the process aims to completely eliminate terrorism from Türkiye and the wider region, remove violence and weapons from the country’s agenda and strengthen social cohesion.
The board discussed procedures governing its work and ways to ensure high-level coordination among state institutions involved in implementing the legislation.
Four bodies will operate under the board: the Judicial and Legal Affairs Coordination Subcommittee, the Monitoring and Assessment Subcommittee, the Social Cohesion and Integration Subcommittee, and the Disarmament and Strategic Coordination Subcommittee.
“The state, with all its institutions acting in full coordination, will continue to resolutely implement these historic steps that will strengthen social integration,” the statement said.
The meeting also focused on the road map for the dissolution and disarmament of the PKK terrorist group, including developments on the ground and mechanisms for security agencies to monitor the process.
The board will oversee the dissolution of the PKK/KCK and affiliated groups and the surrender of weapons and ammunition under the terrorist group’s control.
Authorities will work through interagency coordination to verify that weapons have been permanently laid down, while a National Security Council decision will be awaited for formal confirmation of the process.
The government described the legislation as a key legal foundation for the terror-free Türkiye initiative, saying the process is intended to strengthen domestic peace and social integration while contributing to greater stability, security and prosperity in the wider region.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday that Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to eradicate terrorism would usher in a new era for the country and contribute to stability across the region, as he addressed an event in eastern Türkiye marking the 955th anniversary of the Battle of Malazgirt.
Speaking at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan National Garden in Ahlat, a district of Bitlis province, Erdoğan said Türkiye would move toward a stronger future through national unity and solidarity.
“Let no one have any doubt: We will all witness the rise of a great and powerful Türkiye on the horizon, just as these monuments here bear witness to history,” Erdoğan underlined. “Together, we will shoulder the sacred legacy of our martyrs and veterans and carry Türkiye toward a much stronger future.”
Erdoğan placed particular emphasis on solidarity among Turks, Kurds and Arabs, saying Türkiye’s progress would also benefit other peoples across the region.
“We know who is disturbed by this. We know who is concerned about it,” he noted “Whatever you do, you cannot turn us away from our path. You cannot prevent us, as Turks, Kurds and Arabs, from embracing one another in brotherhood.”
The president said the country’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, which he said was first signaled in Ahlat two years ago, would open the door to a new period when it achieves its objectives.
“Our economy will grow stronger along with our brotherhood, and the resilience of our home front will increase along with our prosperity,” he said.
The president added that Türkiye’s immediate neighborhood, particularly Syria and Iraq, could achieve the peace and stability it has sought for years.
“The winners will be humanity, brotherhood, peace and stability. The winner will be the Turkish nation with its 86 million citizens.”
Erdoğan said Türkiye had entered a new phase in its development, declaring that “the dawn of a great and powerful Türkiye has broken” and that the construction of the “Century of Türkiye” had begun.
The president’s remarks came as Türkiye prepared to commemorate the Battle of Malazgirt, fought on Aug. 26, 1071, when Seljuk forces led by Sultan Alp Arslan defeated the Byzantine army. The victory is widely regarded in Türkiye as a turning point that paved the way for the settlement of Anatolia by the Turks.
Events commemorating the 955th anniversary were held in Ahlat on Aug. 23-25, drawing visitors to the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan National Garden. Crowds carrying Turkish flags began gathering at the venue early Tuesday ahead of Erdoğan’s address.
Erdoğan is expected to chair a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ahlat. His program is also expected to continue with a dinner attended by Cabinet members, regional governors and relatives of fallen soldiers.
Furthermore, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli also issued a statement Tuesday commemorating the anniversary, describing the 1071 victory as a defining moment that changed the course of history and shaped the future of Anatolia.
“The Turkish nation’s march on the stage of history has witnessed the establishment of many world states, conquests that became legends and victories whose memories have been carried with pride through generations and illuminated the future,” Bahçeli said.
He traced the historical developments preceding Malazgirt, citing the Seljuk victory at Dandanaqan in 1040, early expeditions into Anatolia, the Battle of Pasinler in 1048 and Alp Arslan’s conquest of Ani in 1064.
Bahçeli said the Battle of Malazgirt represented the culmination of a longer political and military process that established a lasting Turkish presence in Anatolia.
He also emphasized the continuity of Turkish statehood from the Seljuk period through the Ottoman Empire and the modern Republic of Türkiye.
“Malazgirt is our past, Anatolia is our honor, Türkiye is our future,” Bahçeli said. “The Republic of Türkiye is our destiny.”
The annual Malazgirt commemorations hold symbolic importance in Türkiye, with senior officials frequently invoking the 1071 victory as a milestone in the country’s historical presence in Anatolia.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications set up a stand at the anniversary events in Ahlat to provide visitors with information about the historic victory.
Two digital kiosks featured an interactive quiz prepared specifically for the anniversary as well as an archery-themed game.
The directorate also distributed copies of a book titled “The Malazgirt Victory: Turkish Art of War and Artistic Aesthetics” to visitors.
A 360-degree rotating photo platform at the stand also drew interest from participants, allowing visitors to take photographs commemorating the anniversary events.
Staff from the Directorate of Communications provided information about the institution’s activities and the publication as part of the three-day commemorations.
Turkish security forces detained 48 suspected migrant smugglers in operations across 23 provinces, the Interior Ministry announced Monday, as authorities intensified efforts against irregular migration and organized smuggling networks.
Thirty-one of the suspects were formally arrested following judicial proceedings, while 17 were released under judicial supervision, the ministry said in a statement.
The operations were coordinated by the Gendarmerie General Command’s Department of Combating Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking and the Turkish Coast Guard Command.
Raids and enforcement operations were carried out in the provinces of Ağrı, Ankara, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bitlis, Çanakkale, Düzce, Edirne, Erzurum, Hatay, Izmir, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Konya, Manisa, Muğla, Siirt, Sivas, Şanlıurfa, Şırnak, Tekirdağ, Tunceli and Van.
Authorities used both aerial and ground surveillance during the operations. Unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the Gendarmerie General Command conducted surveillance from the air, while provincial gendarmerie units carried out operations on the ground.
Public security, highway patrol and commando units also participated, while Coast Guard personnel supported coordinated operations targeting maritime smuggling routes.
Security forces seized 83 vehicles and 18 boats and boat engines believed to have been used in migrant smuggling activities, the ministry said.
All 48 suspects detained during the operations were subjected to judicial proceedings.
Türkiye has stepped up operations targeting networks accused of facilitating irregular migration, particularly in provinces along its land and maritime borders and along major transit routes.
The Interior Ministry said authorities would continue operations against irregular migration and migrant smuggling networks to protect public order and national security.
The ministry said its approach to combating irregular migration would continue to prioritize human rights while maintaining public order and safeguarding the country’s national interests.
It also thanked personnel from the Gendarmerie, Coast Guard and migrant smuggling and human trafficking units involved in the operations.
Separately, in the central Turkish province of Nevşehir, a suspect accused of transporting four irregular migrants and agreeing to take them from Sivas to Nevşehir for TL 50,000 ($1,040) per person was formally arrested by a court.
As part of a joint operation against migrant smuggling by the Nevşehir Provincial Police Department’s Intelligence Branch and the Department of Combating Migrant Smuggling and Border Gates, police placed the suspect, identified as Hüseyin Ö., under surveillance.
Authorities determined during questioning that Hüseyin Ö. had agreed to transport the four irregular migrants from Sivas to Nevşehir for TL 50,000 per person.
The suspect was detained and referred to a courthouse after procedures at the police station. A court subsequently ordered his arrest and he was sent to prison.
Deportation proceedings have been initiated for the four illegal migrants.
On Saturday, the Turkish Coast Guard also rescued 37 irregular migrants, including three children, from a rubber boat off the coast of Didim in the western province of Aydın after they were pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek authorities.
Coast Guard boats were dispatched after receiving information about a group of irregular migrants aboard a rubber boat off Didim.
The Coast Guard rescued all 37 migrants from the vessel.
A Turkish financial crimes report has detailed on Monday extensive property transactions, multimillion-lira bank transfers and vehicle purchases involving the family and close associates of Alihan Kuriş, the alleged leader of a criminal organization under investigation by Ankara prosecutors.
The report by Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), dated Aug. 20, was prepared as part of an investigation by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into alleged laundering of criminal proceeds, fraud causing losses to public institutions and violations of the Tax Procedure Law.
Prosecutors requested an examination of changes in the wealth and assets of Kuriş and his relatives since Jan. 1, 2016.
MASAK examined assets, bank transactions, vehicles, company partnerships and property transfers involving Kuriş, his wife, parents, brother and grandmother, as well as his wife’s parents and sibling.
According to the report, land registry records showed a combined 1,818 property transactions involving four family members.
Kuriş’s mother, identified by the initials A.G.D.K., had 646 property transaction records, while his late grandmother, N.K., had 539. His father, M.S.K., had 207 transactions, while his father-in-law, M.K., had 426.
The transactions involving Kuriş’s mother covered a wide range of properties, including homes, offices, shops, workshops, restaurants, agricultural land and plots. Some were acquired through inheritance or transfers from relatives, while other properties were subsequently transferred to third parties or companies, according to the report.
MASAK found 27 properties registered to Kuriş’s father, 21 of which carried annotations or seizure orders.
The properties included apartments, plots, agricultural land, office and commercial premises and several multistory buildings. One property carried 38 enforcement liens and 72 public liens as well as multiple mortgage records, the report said.
Records also showed transfers involving Kuriş, his brother Hilmi Tuna Kuriş and their mother following their father’s death.
Property transactions involving Hilmi Tuna Kuriş intensified between 2024 and 2026, according to the report.
MASAK also said his banking transfers reached tens of millions of Turkish liras. Some properties linked to him were subject to enforcement liens, precautionary measures and two separate seizure orders.
The report also highlighted a transaction involving Kuriş’s wife, who had no real estate registered in her name but owned two vehicles.
On Sept. 5, 2023, TL 2.4 million (around $50,000) was transferred to his wife’s account by a third party, Mehmet Özmen. Almost the entire amount was transferred the same day to an automotive company, according to MASAK.
Investigators are examining why Özmen financed the vehicle and whether there was a legal or commercial relationship between the parties.
MASAK records also showed two luxury vehicles from the 2023 and 2024 model years registered to A.N.B.
Investigators are examining the source of funds behind the property purchases, vehicles, company interests and increased banking activity as part of the broader probe into Kuriş and his alleged organization.
Alihan Kuriş, the de facto leader of a group known publicly as “Süleymancılar,” was arrested last week along with other suspects.
The group originated as a religious movement named after 20th-century Islamic scholar Süleyman Hilmi Tunahan, Kuriş’s great-grandfather.
Initially operating through informal religious instruction in homes and mosques, the group later expanded across Türkiye through Quran courses and student dormitories, largely financed by membership contributions and donations. Over time, its activities expanded into commercial sectors including food, health care, tourism, textiles, construction and real estate.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva discussed bilateral relations and regional and global developments in a phone call, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said Monday.
Erdoğan welcomed the continued development of relations between Türkiye and Brazil, saying ties that were elevated to an advanced level two decades ago have continued to strengthen.
The Turkish president said deepening cooperation in a broad range of areas, particularly investment, trade and the defense industry, would benefit both countries, according to the statement.
Erdoğan also emphasized the potential for stronger economic ties between Ankara and Brasilia amid growing protectionist tendencies in the global economy.
He said he believed Türkiye and Brazil could develop a model of economic cooperation that would increase the prosperity of both countries while countering protectionist trends.
The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues.
Erdoğan said Türkiye and Brazil’s policies prioritizing peace in addressing regional and international challenges contributed to global peace.
Türkiye and Brazil have sought to expand bilateral economic and political relations in recent years while also cooperating through multilateral platforms on international issues.
As Israel’s expansionist policies threaten the stability of the wider region, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further stokes the fire. Netanyahu is currently running his election campaign on anti-Türkiye rhetoric after being forced under U.S. pressure to stop attacks on Iran and Lebanon.
The prime minister, whose name has been linked to corruption allegations and whose party has fallen in public opinion polls, has long sought to avoid prison. He became the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial for corruption. The architect of the genocide in the Gaza Strip, who is responsible for the deaths of more than 73,000 Palestinians (most of them women and children), has been criticized even in Israel for “setting the region on fire to protect his seat.”
Netanyahu’s Likud party is currently the largest party in Israel’s 120-seat parliament with 32 seats. But opinion polls for elections scheduled for Oct. 27 show Likud falling from 32 seats to 23 and becoming the second-largest party. Polls also show Likud and Netanyahu’s far-right and ultra-Orthodox coalition partners falling far below the 61 seats needed to form a government. A poll published by Israel’s Channel 13 on Aug. 19 showed Netanyahu and his coalition partners winning a total of only 51 seats.
Amid these developments, Netanyahu and his team turned to anti-Türkiye rhetoric. The signals came weeks before Israel’s Aug. 18 attack on the inactive Abu al-Duhur military air base in Syria’s Idlib province.
Amichai Chikli, a Likud lawmaker and diaspora minister, claimed in a radio interview in June that Israel would “sooner or later enter a war with Syria.” “Türkiye and Syria are far more disturbing developments than Iran,” Chikli said. Chikli, who often draws attention with anti-Türkiye posts, also voiced unease over the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. He said Saudi Arabia’s move to act with Türkiye was a “very bad development” for Israel.
Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, one of Netanyahu’s closest figures, has also emerged as a leading figure using anti-Türkiye rhetoric against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the election campaign. Katz frequently targets Türkiye and Erdoğan on social media, and many of his posts are written in Turkish.
Eli Cohen, a Likud lawmaker and energy minister, also signaled last month that anti-Türkiye rhetoric would be used in the campaign. “If Türkiye establishes a base in Syria, we will establish one too,” Cohen told a local radio station.
Some opposition leaders and analyses published in Israel agree that Netanyahu and people close to him have turned the attack in Syria into an election campaign tactic by using anti-Türkiye rhetoric. Democrats party leader Yair Golan said Netanyahu made an “arrogant and dangerous” move with the attack. Golan said Israel “raised tensions with Türkiye and deepened the rift with the U.S.,” stressing that Netanyahu used military force for political calculations and that Tel Aviv paid the price in security terms.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Netanyahu was pursuing a policy of reaching voters through security tensions ahead of the Oct. 27 elections.
Israeli political commentator Esther Solomon said in an analysis published in Haaretz newspaper that Netanyahu had failed to get the poll results he wanted “despite all his efforts” before the elections. Solomon said Netanyahu was trying to gain more votes by using every front to “overwhelm, surprise, and wear down the opposition” to build momentum for his party before the elections.
Another political commentator, Jonathan Lis, said in Haaretz that political considerations also played a role in Netanyahu’s decision-making process alongside security and diplomatic parameters. “As Israel’s October elections approach, it is highly suspicious that Netanyahu would want an escalation of tensions with Türkiye and Syria, especially as the Trump administration encourages calm between the parties,” Lis said.
The election campaign built on anti-Türkiye rhetoric in Israel is not limited to statements by Netanyahu and figures close to him. Channel 14 television, known for its closeness to Netanyahu, targeted Türkiye’s Consulate General in occupied East Jerusalem, which represents Palestine. A Channel 14 report claimed “unauthorized renovation” was being carried out in the building housing Türkiye’s Consulate General in Jerusalem. The report said the Israeli-affiliated Jerusalem Municipality was not allowed to inspect the site and broadcast exterior footage of the consulate building.
In addition, i24 television aired a documentary claiming Türkiye was trying to take control of East Jerusalem by focusing on the activities of Turkish institutions and associations in the city. The documentary gave broad coverage to humanitarian aid provided by Turkish institutions and associations to Palestinians in the city and also included the activities of the Yunus Emre Cultural Center in East Jerusalem.
A new Likud billboard in Tel Aviv features Erdoğan alongside Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani under the message, “They want Netanyahu to lose. Don’t let them win.”
‘Cheap politics’
Netanyahu is seeking to portray Türkiye as a new threat as part of “cheap politics” aimed at gaining an electoral advantage, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said Friday, warning that Israel’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric poses serious risks to regional and global stability.
The directorate strongly rejected recent remarks by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office concerning Erdoğan, describing them as an “impertinent rant” devoid of historical facts and political seriousness, and another sign of the desperation of an administration seeking to evade accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
It said the “cheap politics” pursued by Netanyahu and his associates, which it said was also designed to secure an advantage in elections, has no resonance in Israeli society, the region, the international community, or Türkiye.
The directorate said the remarks by an Israeli government facing genocide accusations before international justice mechanisms were a telling demonstration of how deeply Türkiye’s voice and Erdoğan’s refusal to remain silent in the face of injustice have unsettled the Netanyahu administration.
It also warned that Israel’s election campaign has increasingly fallen under the influence of irresponsible security-driven populism and an intensifying politics of threats. “The Netanyahu government’s effort to construct Türkiye as a new threat figure is also part of this cheap politics,” the directorate said.
It warned that pursuing a politics of threats and escalating tensions for the sake of domestic political competition carries serious risks not only for Israeli society but also for regional and global peace and stability.
Türkiye will continue, as it has in the past, to stand against oppressors and alongside the oppressed, and firmly defend peace, justice, and stability in the region regardless of the cost, the directorate said.
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