Politics
Erdoğan embarks on UN trip with Palestine, Syria, US ties in mind
Answering reporters’ questions before his departure for New York from Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan summed up his busy schedule in the United States, where he will attend the United Nations General Assembly.
A platform for leaders of countries big and small, the assembly will give Erdoğan a chance to delve into the causes he champions. Primary among them will be the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and the need for a two-state solution to resolve it, as the Turkish leader reiterated once again on Sunday.
Erdoğan will also be joined by Syria’s post-Assad administration at the U.N. General Assembly and he pledged to stand with them in their bid to recover the war-torn country.
A key entry on Erdoğan’s itinerary will be his first one-on-one meeting in the U.S. with his counterpart, Donald Trump. Erdoğan described the U.S. president as a “valuable friend” as he talked to journalists on Sunday and said they would meet on Thursday.
Erdoğan said this year’s General Assembly would be different than previous ones due to widespread recognition of the State of Palestine. “We hope these decisions would add momentum to realizing the two-state solution,” he said.
Britain was set to recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday, U.K. media said, ahead of key U.N. talks where several nations are poised to follow suit to pressure Israel over Gaza. Portugal’s Foreign Ministry also said in a statement that Lisbon “will recognize the State of Palestine” and that “the official declaration of recognition will be made on Sunday.”
Although it would be a largely symbolic move, the U.K. would become the first G-7 country to move toward full recognition of a State of Palestine, with France and others expected to follow at the U.N. General Assembly. It is a watershed moment for Palestinian statehood, with the most powerful Western nations for years holding out against recognition, arguing it had to be part of any two-state solution negotiated as part of a deal to peace with Israel. But a growing number of longtime allies have shifted positions, as Israel has intensified its Gaza offensive.
President Erdoğan highlighted the theme of the assembly as “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” Erdoğan, however, was critical of the U.N., especially “its current structure reflecting the circumstances 80 years ago and falling short of executing its primary duties.”
Erdoğan is a fervent advocate for reforms at the U.N., especially the structure of the five-member Security Council, where world powers decide on the fate of countries, with smaller countries having no rights. The Turkish leader describes his fight for reforms with the motto “the world is bigger than five.” His reform call escalated in the wake of Israel’s brutal campaign since 2023 in the Palestinian territories, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians.
“There is no explanation for leaving the solution of humanitarian crises at the mercy of Security Council countries with veto power. I first voiced this fact 12 years ago at the U.N. General Assembly, telling them that the world is bigger than five. Developments have repeatedly affirmed the truth in our statement since then. Even the U.N. secretary-general started voicing the need for urgent reforms at the U.N. We supported reform efforts and will continue doing so,” Erdoğan said.
“In my speech at the General Assembly on Tuesday, I will particularly raise awareness of humanitarian disaster and oppression in Gaza,” the president said.
Erdoğan has long been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, emphasizing the need for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. In previous U.N. addresses, he has repeatedly criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza, calling on the international community to uphold international law and protect civilians. Last year, he urged nations that had yet to recognize Palestine to “stand on the right side of history” and take concrete steps toward Palestinian statehood.
On Sunday, he recalled his talks on Thursday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and said he had “extensive talks” with the Palestinian leader on recognition of Palestine. Palestine has always faced serious issues in the region and continues to do so. Türkiye has always been with Palestine and will remain such. The world, however, did not stand with them, unfortunately. Now we see some 140 countries recognizing Palestine. This is good news, and we will have more good news when more join them in recognition at the General Assembly. We hope that more countries will recognize Palestine,” he said.
Erdoğan has brought Israel’s genocide in Palestine to the global agenda at U.N. meetings he has attended since his time as prime minister, becoming the voice of Palestine. In these meetings, he has called on the international community to act together against Israel’s oppression, frequently emphasizing that the solution lies in the immediate establishment of an independent and homogeneous Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In his 2007 address to the 62nd General Assembly, which he attended as then-prime minister, Erdoğan said the Middle East conflict constituted one of the most significant sources of instability in the region where Türkiye is located. Stressing that they see the Palestinian issue, which has repercussions both regionally and beyond, as the fundamental issue at the heart of the Middle East conflict, he said the issue requires the cooperation of not only the region but also countries beyond the region. “We believe that a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will have a positive impact on resolving other problems in the region. “We are ready to provide all kinds of support to the parties in their efforts to revitalize the peace process and to contribute to the planned international meeting,” he stressed.
Erdoğan struck similar tones in his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in 2009, emphasizing that this is one of the regional issues Türkiye places particular importance on. A solution to the Palestinian issue would only be possible if everyone were treated fairly and equally, Erdoğan said, adding: “Ending the human tragedy in Gaza and establishing lasting peace is our humanitarian and conscientious responsibility.”
In his speech to the 66th U.N. General Assembly in 2011, he said the failure to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and, on the contrary, the constant squandering of rights and law for the sake of political balances, is the greatest blow to the sense of international justice. There are hundreds of resolutions passed under the U.N. umbrella that Israel disregards, he noted. Highlighting that the U.N. is incapable of taking any steps to end the humanitarian tragedy experienced by the Palestinian people, Erdoğan said: “There are no sanctions against Israel, which readily uses phosphorus bombs, Israel, which possesses atomic bombs.”
“However, as soon as they sense such a climate in the environment, they start trying to figure out how to impose sanctions. Is this justice? Shouldn’t this be questioned?
“If, as the international community, we believe in the ideal of establishing international peace and security, the founding purpose of the U.N., Israel must be pressured for peace, despite those who govern it, and clearly demonstrated that it is not above the law,” he further highlighted.
Erdoğan, in his first address to the 69th U.N. General Assembly in 2014 as president, said: “The immediate implementation of a two-state solution in Palestine, the lifting of the blockade on Gaza and the establishment of an independent and sustainable Palestinian state alongside Israel are political, humanitarian and moral imperatives.”
He noted that the two-state solution was discussed at the U.N. podium, but no action was taken, saying: “Talk is not enough. We need action. It is time for action.”
In his address to the 79th U.N. General Assembly in 2024, Erdoğan expressed his satisfaction at seeing the representative of Palestine, after a long struggle, among member states.
“I hope this historic step will mark the final turning point on Palestine’s path to U.N. membership.
“I invite other states that have not recognized Palestine to stand on the right side of history at this critical juncture and recognize the State of Palestine as soon as possible,” he noted.
Erdoğan emphasized that Israel’s stalling and deceptive tactics should not be given any further credence. “In an environment where U.N. Security Council Resolution 2735 is not being implemented, coercive measures against Israel must be put on the agenda.
“Israel’s stance has once again demonstrated that it is essential for the international community to develop a protection mechanism for Palestinian civilians.
“Just as Hitler was stopped by the alliance of humanity 70 years ago, Netanyahu and his murderous network must also be stopped by the alliance of humanity,” he added.
Noting that Türkiye is the country that sends the most aid to Gaza, Erdoğan said that Ankara, by halting trade transactions with Israel, has demonstrated its sensitivity on this issue. “We also stand with the people and government of Lebanon, against whom Israel has recently escalated its attacks,” he further highlighted.
Erdoğan also expressed his support for the genocide case filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice to ensure that Israel’s crimes do not go unpunished.
Solidarity with Syria
Another issue dominating Erdoğan’s agenda is the new era in Türkiye’s southern neighbor, Syria. Ahmed al-Sharaa, the first president of the country after the fall of the Baathist regime, will make his inaugural participation at the General Assembly. Ankara has been quick to re-establish ties with Syria under the interim administration of al-Sharaa and pledged to contribute to the recovery of the war-torn country.
“It is a delightful development for us to have a new administration of our neighbor Syria there at the U.N. after its liberation with the Dec. 8 revolution following 14 years of bloodshed and darkness,” Erdoğan told reporters on Sunday.
“I believe this General Assembly would make contributions to efforts for our Syrian brothers and sisters to achieve permanent peace after they endured great suffering and paid hefty prices for their freedoms,” Erdoğan said.
The president noted that he would also host al-Sharaa and his foreign minister “soon” in Ankara and prior to that, would meet them in New York, at the Turkish House, which houses the Turkish diplomatic mission. “We will not abandon Syria and we will mobilize all resources for strengthening Syria,” Erdoğan said.
Meeting with Trump
Apart from his U.N. speech, the highlight of Erdoğan’s visit will certainly be a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. It will be the first time the two leaders will meet in the U.S., although they have come together in several international events before and held frequent phone calls.
The president called Trump a valuable friend as he replied to questions about the upcoming meeting on Sunday, adding that they would discuss issues to boost bilateral cooperation from trade to investment and the defense industry.
“Regional issues will certainly top the agenda of our meeting. As two friends and allies, we understand the importance of close consultation and coordination. We expressed support earlier for Mr. Trump’s global peace vision and his efforts in that regard. We believe a fair peace has no losers. Leaders have a great responsibility to safeguard the peace, strengthen stability and end conflicts and tensions in our region. We always endeavored to conduct a shuttle diplomacy to find solutions through dialogue. We adhere to this stance. We desire an end to bloodshed and tears in our region and the prevalence of peace in every inch of this region. All our efforts are focused on achieving this,” he said.
Damaged vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla are being repaired in Türkiye’s Antalya after an Israeli attack in international waters, with volunteers working to prepare the ships for another voyage toward Gaza.
Some of the vessels were left with damaged engines, broken masts and torn sails after the attack. They were later brought to Antalya, where local and international volunteers are carrying out repairs at a shipyard.
Two vessels have already been repaired and sent to Italy as part of preparations for another Gaza-bound mission, said Sümeyra Akdeniz Ordu, a board member of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
“We are trying to recover the ships drifting at sea one by one. We are carrying out a rescue mission,” Ordu told Anadolu Agency (AA). “We are repairing these ships so they can sail to Gaza again.”
Fourteen flotilla vessels are currently in Antalya, Ordu said, adding that volunteers from different countries were helping coordinate and repair the ships.
She said each vessel had a special significance for the activists and that they were treating the ships “like their own children” as they worked to restore them.
The damage was extensive, Ordu said, describing broken masts, damaged engines and cut hoses. She also said the sails had been torn with knives.
“The mast was broken, surface cleaner and coffee had been poured into the engines, and the hoses on each ship had been cut one by one,” she said. “They caused this damage by ramming them with larger ships.”
The repairs have been difficult because of the extent of the damage, but volunteers have continued working, Ordu said.
Türkiye has provided a safe port for the repair effort, she added.
Ordu said the activists remained determined to continue their efforts despite the damage to the vessels.
“If the enemy does not give up, we cannot give up,” she said. “We are trying to be a voice here for our Palestinian friends.”
She said the damage to the vessels showed what she described as the violence and hostility directed at the flotilla.
“We, too, insist on continuing every form of resistance,” Ordu said.
Türkiye condemned a drone attack on a power distribution station in the Saudi city of Medina that supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, reiterating its support for Saudi Arabia amid renewed regional tensions.
Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), condemned the attack on Friday, saying targeting infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque was unacceptable.
“Attacks targeting our sacred values are illegitimate acts directed against all Muslims,” Çelik said in a social media post, adding that Türkiye strongly supported Saudi Arabia’s security and stability.
The targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second-holiest site. The attack put one transformer out of service but did not affect the electricity network.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the attack, saying strikes targeting civilian infrastructure and threatening Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security should “cease immediately and unconditionally.”
The ministry reiterated Türkiye’s support for Saudi Arabia and called on parties to avoid steps that could further escalate tensions in the region.
“We reaffirm our strong support for Saudi Arabia and emphasize the need to avoid any steps that would further escalate tensions in the region,” the statement said.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran on Friday separately condemned the strike and said Türkiye would continue to stand by Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led coalition said an investigation and examination of drone wreckage indicated Houthi involvement in the Sept. 29 attack.
Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al Maliki said the targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Saudi Arabia said two weeks ago it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over the Muslim holy city. The coalition described that incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca since 2017.
Earlier on Thursday, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, also condemned the attack on Medina.
The OIC described the targeting of vital infrastructure and facilities as “a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sanctity of holy sites,” as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.
Bashiqa-Zilkan, a key Turkish base in Iraq, will soon be handed over to Iraqi authorities while Turkish troops are expected to withdraw from the country. The development, which comes amid the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country, which remained there as part of an anti-Daesh coalition, signals the start of a new era for Iraq and Türkiye. The Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Thursday that the handover of the base did not mean an end to cooperation with Iraq and, on the contrary, Türkiye would continue supporting Iraq’s security and stability.
Türkiye and Iraq agreed earlier this month to deepen security cooperation, restore full Iraqi state authority in Sinjar and begin the gradual handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan military base to Baghdad under an agreed timetable.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced the steps in a joint statement following talks in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The ministry said Türkiye welcomed steps to ensure state authority in Sinjar. The base was set up in 2015 to help Iraq fight against Daesh and later maintained its presence when the terrorist group PKK sought to replace Daesh following the liberation of Sinjar.
“These steps will contribute to normalization of the region, establishing an environment of security and stability and a terror-free region,” the ministry said, using an expression referring to Ankara’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, which aims to disarm the PKK.
The statement also said it was decided to gradually hand over the compound to the central government in Baghdad, “based on improvement of security in Sinjar.”
“Our country, as it did in the past, stands with our neighbor Iraq in terms of maintaining an environment of security and stability. Throughout future contacts, we are planning to take steps that will further advance military and security cooperation. We will continue supporting Iraq’s armed forces in increasing military capacity, sharing know-how in counterterrorism and in the fields of military training and defense industry cooperation, based on bilateral agreements,” the ministry stated.
Ayhan Sarı, an assistant professor at the Turkish-German University and a security and foreign policy expert at the Turkish Research Foundation (TAV), noted that Türkiye’s withdrawal was linked to ending the PKK’s presence in Sinjar and the re-establishment of Baghdad’s authority there.
Sarı told Daily Sabah that Türkiye has been in Iraq as an exercise of its right to self-defense under international law, particularly Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognizes the right to individual and collective self-defense against armed attacks. “Türkiye’s presence in Iraq has been due to the PKK threat in the north. (The dissolution) of the PKK will remove the need to remain in Iraq,” Sarı said.
He noted that the PKK and other terrorist groups had, for years, filled the power vacuum that emerged in Iraq’s northern region following the beginning of the Iraq War.
“Iraq’s central government claims it can find a solution to this vacuum through recent steps and establish full authority within its borders after the U.S. withdrawal,” Sarı said.
A U.S.-led coalition deployed in Iraq more than a decade ago against Daesh formally concluded its mission on Wednesday. Daesh was largely expelled from Iraq and Syria, also thanks to Türkiye’s cross-border operations in Assad-era Syria, but U.S. forces remained. Washington and Baghdad reached an agreement two years ago to wind down the mission.
Sarı said it was only natural that Türkiye was supportive of Iraq’s steps to ensure security on its own, since Ankara was committed to developing good relations with its neighbors and centered its foreign policy on peace and stability.
“As it did in Syria, Türkiye sides with central authority, stability and security in Iraq. Türkiye will support this move and will do whatever it can to ensure that this mission succeeds in maintaining stability and security, based on its neighborly relations,” he said.
Sarı added that Iraq’s efforts were compatible with Türkiye’s foreign policy and plans. “Iraq’s success will also mean the complete expulsion of the PKK from that country. This expulsion, removal of this malignant tumor between Türkiye and Iraq, will certainly add momentum to Turkish-Iraqi relations,” he also stated.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new legislative year at the Turkish Parliament on Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hailed a law passed by Parliament on terror-free Türkiye, which involves the disarmament of the terrorist group PKK.
“Consensus on a terror-free Türkiye has upset the country’s foes. (Terror-free Türkiye) is already having a deterrent effect on Türkiye’s foes and is empowering the country,” Erdoğan said.
The president also urged other political parties to strengthen the “home front” amid regional tensions and reach a “grand Türkiye consensus.”
The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration was approved by Parliament in August following months of political consultations over the government’s terror-free Türkiye initiative. The 12-article legislation received broad parliamentary backing, with 468 lawmakers voting in favor, 88 against and six abstaining. It mainly involves deferral of sentences and prosecution, as part of the initiative that paved the way for the dissolution of the PKK.
For decades, the PKK remained the main security threat for Türkiye, and its violent campaign is blamed for the deaths of thousands of people and immense economic losses, especially in southeastern Türkiye. Apart from small nationalist parties, almost all political parties openly supported the initiative, something rare in polarized Turkish politics.
“The era of opposition solely based on opposing what the government did is over. It is a grave mistake to reduce politics to antagonizing the rivals, to a war of attrition, instead of making it a race in offering the best public services. Regional and global developments require us to pursue a new style of politics,” Erdoğan told Parliament amid constant applause from lawmakers from his Justice and Development Party (AK Party). The main opposition New Party (YP) left Parliament’s general assembly hall as Erdoğan took the floor.
“We have two options now: We will either continue with the old way of politics focusing on polarization, or we will build new politics based on finding common ground, finding consensus amid competition,” he said.
“If we are meant to make Türkiye great and strong again, if we are meant to utilize historic opportunities, we have to adapt to this paradigm shift altogether and without losing more time,” he said.
The president said they did not expect all political parties to fully align or have the same opinion.
“Different views are certainly the wealth of Türkiye, Turkish democracy. But all political parties should prioritize Türkiye. Every party should draw power from its own dynamics, its grassroots, to carry out ‘Türkiye-oriented politics,'” Erdoğan said.
“Reconciliation and tolerance should replace conflict and polarization. We have to find common ground on matters essential for every member of our nation. This is what we call the ‘grand Türkiye consensus,'” Erdoğan added.
New constitution
The president also focused on drafting a new constitution. “The goal of a new and civilian constitution is a struggle for Turkish democracy to prove its maturity. Our esteemed Parliament is competent and authorized to draft a constitution under all circumstances and in every period. A new constitution that will broaden Türkiye’s horizons will be the product not of a politics of polarization, but of a new politics based on competition within consensus. Our nation’s longing for a new constitution must not be held hostage by manufactured fears. Our position regarding the first four articles of the Constitution currently in force is clear. Rolling up our sleeves for a new and civilian constitution worthy of the ‘Century of Türkiye’ is a genuine test of sincerity for everyone. I hope the current legislative year will be a year of constitutional reform that expands Türkiye’s opportunities and potential,” he said.
Since the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, constitutional design has served as the backbone of the country’s legal system. The current Constitution, adopted in 1982, has been repeatedly amended over the decades, most notably in 2017, when a national referendum paved the way for the country’s transition from a parliamentary model to an executive presidential system.
Despite numerous amendments over the decades, replacing the 1982 Constitution with a new, civilian-drafted charter remains a prominent issue in Türkiye’s political debate.
Erdoğan and Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş have repeatedly advocated for a new civilian constitution, arguing that the existing charter retains the legacy of military rule under which it was drafted despite extensive subsequent amendments.
Türkiye condemned Thursday a drone attack by Houthis on a power station in the Muslim holy city of Medina, reaffirming its support for Saudi Arabia.
The targeted facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second-holiest site. The attack put one transformer out of service but did not affect the electricity network.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Thursday that an investigation and examination of drone wreckage confirmed Houthi involvement in planning and carrying out Tuesday’s attack.
“We strongly condemn the Houthis’ attack on civilian infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“These provocative attacks, which threaten Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security and target the sacred values of the Islamic world, must cease immediately and unconditionally,” it said.
Saudi Arabia said two weeks ago it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over the Muslim holy city. The coalition described that incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca since 2017.
The Foreign Ministry emphasized the need to avoid any steps that would further escalate tensions.
“We reaffirm our strong support for Saudi Arabia and emphasize the need to avoid any steps that would further escalate tensions in the region,” the statement said.
Earlier Thursday, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, also condemned the attack on Medina.
The OIC described the targeting of vital infrastructure and facilities as “a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sanctity of holy sites,” as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.
The organization affirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in measures taken to protect its territory, security and stability, defend Islamic holy sites and safeguard citizens and residents.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the drone attack constituted “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and a threat to its security and stability.”
The Saudi-led coalition said the Medina attack was part of what it described as repeated Houthi attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and “provoke” Muslims worldwide. It said it would continue taking measures to protect the holy sites and pilgrims.
Houthis denied the accusation.
The latest escalation is the most serious fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis since a U.N.-brokered truce largely halted cross-border attacks in 2022. Hostilities resumed this year after the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and began attacking Saudi territory and shipping, while Houthi forces also made major territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes in Yemen and backed government forces fighting to push back the Houthis.
Turkish authorities detained Eyüpsultan Mayor Mithat Bülent Özmen and 27 other suspects earlier Friday as part of a corruption investigation involving the Istanbul district municipality, prosecutors said.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said detention orders were issued for 28 suspects over allegations including membership in a criminal organization, receiving and giving bribes and bid rigging.
All 28 suspects were detained in simultaneous operations carried out by financial crimes police, according to the prosecutor’s office. Authorities also conducted searches and seizures at addresses linked to the suspects and searched the Republican People’s Party (CHP)-run Eyüpsultan Municipality building.
Prosecutors said the investigation was being conducted in coordination with the Ankara Police Department’s Financial Crimes Investigation Branch.
“The investigation continues in a comprehensive and meticulous manner,” the prosecutor’s office said.
Özmen, who serves as mayor of Istanbul’s Eyüpsultan district, was among those taken into custody.
The detentions are part of an ongoing investigation, and no court has ruled on the allegations against the suspects.
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