Türkiye’s National Security Council (MGK) on Thursday called on the international community to take a principled stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon, while reaffirming Ankara’s commitment to a “terror-free Türkiye” and welcoming the recent agreement reached between Iran and the United States, according to a statement issued by the Presidential Communications Directorate.

The council, which met under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, evaluated efforts toward achieving the goals of a “terror-free Türkiye” and a “terror-free region,” stressing Ankara’s determination to free both the Turkish nation and neighboring countries from the burden of terrorism.

The statement also addressed regional developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East. The MGK said Israel’s continued cease-fire violations in Gaza, settler violence in the occupied West Bank, attacks targeting the status of East Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as actions undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, were negatively affecting efforts to establish peace and stability in the region.

The council called on the international community to adopt a principled position against what it described as Israel’s persistent disregard for universal humanitarian values and international law.

On Cyprus, the MGK emphasized that Türkiye, as a guarantor state, remains both capable of and determined to take all necessary measures within the framework of international law to ensure the security, prosperity and well-being of Turkish Cypriots. It added that no fait accompli undermining the rights and interests of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) or damaging peace in the Eastern Mediterranean would be allowed.

The council also welcomed progress toward peace and stability in Syria, reaffirmed support for the country’s unity and reconstruction efforts, and expressed satisfaction over the agreement reached between Iran and the United States, stressing the importance of preserving the process. The statement added that Ankara would continue supporting initiatives aimed at achieving durable peace and long-term stability in the region.

The statement further highlighted Türkiye’s support for stability in Iraq, efforts to strengthen peace in the South Caucasus, and continued backing for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of African nations.

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Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said Türkiye has reaffirmed its readiness to host negotiations aimed at resolving the war in Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters Thursday in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan region, Ushakov addressed several issues on Moscow’s agenda, including the Ukraine war and recent diplomatic contacts.

Recalling that several rounds of negotiations had previously been held between Russia and Ukraine, Ushakov pointed to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan a day earlier.

“Turkish authorities confirmed that they are ready to provide a platform for negotiations on resolving the Ukraine issue,” Ushakov said.

He added that recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia did not bring a possible meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy any closer.

Referring to the G7 leaders summit hosted by France, Ushakov said Ukraine had been among the issues discussed at the gathering.

“Useful, or even harmful, ideas were probably imposed on U.S. President Donald Trump there,” he said. “The Europeans insist that the war must continue. They proceed from the assumption that the situation on the battlefield favors Ukraine. This is a false assumption.”

Ushakov said Moscow had not had contact with the U.S. administration following the summit and was waiting to receive information from the American side regarding its outcomes.

He also said U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to visit Russia soon, although the date has not yet been finalized.

Türkiye has sought to maximize diplomatic efforts since the first days of the war, positioning itself as one of the few actors able to maintain open channels with both Moscow and Kyiv. Ankara previously succeeded in bringing the two sides to the negotiating table in Istanbul, where talks produced no lasting settlement but still marked some of the most concrete steps toward dialogue since the start of the conflict.

Rather than taking sides between Russia and Ukraine, Türkiye has pursued a balanced policy shaped by its broader foreign policy approach, prioritizing the prevention of further escalation and the restoration of peace.

Although the war in Ukraine has lost some of the momentum seen in its early stages, it continues to shape regional and global politics and remains at the center of international diplomatic efforts.

Fidan’s latest visit, like Ankara’s previous high-level contacts, placed efforts to find a path toward ending the war high on the agenda. Türkiye has maintained frequent contact with both sides through diplomatic visits and leader-to-leader engagement, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s direct diplomacy with Putin and Zelenskyy.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Türkiye is an anchor country that can form its opinions separately from other members of the NATO alliance, and this may be helpful as the European members of the bloc mobilize amid a possible reduction in the role of the U.S., the biggest contributor to NATO.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday after a two-day visit to Russia, Fidan said European leaders trusted Türkiye, specifically President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to manage the process in July’s NATO summit in Ankara.

“There are many important issues to be discussed at the summit, and they wouldn’t be decided upon without the participation of the U.S. president. European countries believe that the most important factor ensuring Trump’s participation was the fact that the summit will be held in Türkiye. He wouldn’t come if it wasn’t for our president, for Türkiye, and his absence would be a declaration that he no longer attaches importance to (NATO),” he said. Trump often boasts about having a good relationship with Erdoğan and most recently heaped praise on the Turkish leader for “doing a good job in Syria’s recovery.”

Fidan stated that NATO roughly consisted of three groups: the United States, the European Union and other countries. “Türkiye is the only country forming its own opinion, acting as an anchor (in the third group),” the minister underlined. He added that the Ankara summit would reinforce Türkiye’s international role and its position in NATO.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday hailed progress by NATO allies to meet defense spending vows, but said some must “do more,” as he struck a conciliatory tone at an alliance meeting.

“Many countries are following through, some that still need to do more, and we will be candid about that, both in private and in public,” Hegseth said ahead of talks with NATO defense ministers in Brussels. “I think that’s important, friends being honest with friends.”

The warm tone will likely reassure Washington’s allies ahead of the Ankara summit, after the mercurial leader lashed out at Europe over its response to his war on Iran.

NATO will look to showcase increased expenditure by Europe to prove to Trump it is progressing on a pledge last year to reach 5% of GDP on defense-related spending.

“When it comes to spending, what we are seeing is staggering amounts of money coming in,” NATO chief Mark Rutte said.

“Europe and Canada are spending in 2025 more than $90 billion extra compared to 2024, which is almost a 20% increase in defense spending.”

Despite the positive spin from the alliance, a NATO official said that three European countries, including Slovenia and Czechia, are currently on course to fall short of a crucial two percent threshold this year.

Washington has been clear with Europe that it wants NATO allies on the continent to take over primary responsibility for their own conventional defense as the U.S.’ focus shifts toward China. As part of that process, the Pentagon has told allies it is reducing the number of assets worldwide that it makes available to NATO. The U.S. move has sparked fear it could leave Europe vulnerable in the face of an aggressive Russia as allies still rely on Washington for some key weaponry. Rutte said that while the U.S. reductions were “immediate,” it didn’t mean that Washington wouldn’t be there if NATO faced an attack. “Then all allies, including the U.S., will max out what they can do to make sure we can fight the war,” he said.

U.S. and German media reported that the cuts include a third of the 150 U.S. F-16 and F-15 jets designated for NATO, plus refuelling and reconnaissance aircraft, bombers and drones. The reports said a submarine that can launch cruise missiles is also being taken out, along with one of two aircraft carrier groups. “By and large, we’ll be able to compensate for many things. But we need a bit more time, and that is the clear message,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.

“It is difficult and dangerous for the security of NATO territory in Europe if capabilities are withdrawn very quickly without it being clear when they can be offset.”

While NATO focuses on its own security, allies will also hold talks on bolstering support for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will join a meeting of Kyiv’s military backers at NATO later in the day before heading to a summit of EU leaders. Ukraine is hoping to build on momentum from a positive meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump at the G-7 in Evian to secure more backing in its fight with Russia.

Russian-Turkish ties

Fidan also commented on his visit, where he met his counterpart Sergey Lavrov, was received by President Vladimir Putin, and held talks with top security officials and businesspeople. He described the visit as fruitful and assured that there was no change in Turkish-Russian relations. “Bilateral talks indicated that we have problems working together on regional issues. Both countries are willing to cooperate in every field,” he said.

The minister noted that Türkiye and Russia can frankly discuss tough, sensitive issues. “We developed a special relationship with Russians. Even in times of challenges in relations, we managed to build trust. Leaders of both countries have the same vision: defending their countries’ interests in the framework of certain principles. They are ready to adapt constructive stance,” he said.

On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which Ankara sought to mediate, Fidan said Russia did not change its view of the conflict.

On regional cooperation in the South Caucasus, Fidan said that they agreed with Russians for implementation of the 3+3 mechanism, referring to a regional cooperation platform comprised Türkiye, Russia, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. “The cooperation should replace competition in the region. This is becoming more common now in light of the latest developments in the Middle East. This viewpoint may strengthen our economies and increase stability. The domination approach should end. Peace and stability will benefit everyone,” he said.

Fidan, on the other hand, acknowledged obstacles to the mechanism, stating that mutual distrust between some countries dramatically escalated. On the opposite side, he recalled last week’s trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Georgia in Türkiye. “We can work especially on connectivity. We discussed linking the Middle Corridor to Türkiye, and we believe we can take important steps,” he said.

Ties with Armenia

On normalization with Armenia, Fidan noted that the Pashinyan government took important steps to that extent. “Thanks to the will of our president, many significant steps were taken, including direct trade and flights. As we stated after the recent parliamentary elections in Armenia, we hope that Armenia will take more steps and once circumstances are appropriate, we are ready for normalization,” he said.

During the tenure of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the two countries took significant steps for normalization.

In 2021, Türkiye’s former ambassador to Washington, Serdar Kılıç, was appointed as Türkiye’s special representative, while Rubinyan was appointed as Armenia’s counterpart.

Kılıç and Rubinyan met in Moscow in January 2022. Türkiye and Armenia agreed to continue negotiations aimed at the full normalization of relations without preconditions. This process was welcomed positively by the international community.

Flights between Armenia and Türkiye, which had ended in 2020, resumed on Feb. 2, 2022. An aircraft departing from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul landed at Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan.

As of Jan. 1, 2023, direct air cargo trade between Türkiye and Armenia became possible.

Restrictions preventing users in Türkiye from accessing websites in Armenia were also removed, with the exception of websites belonging to Armenia’s official institutions.

While negotiations continued, both sides continued to send positive messages regarding the process. In 2024, Armenia announced that the Armenian side of the Alican Border Gate (the Margara Border Crossing) on the Turkish border had been completely renovated and made ready for service.

Under a decision taken by the two sides at the end of 2025, holders of diplomatic, service and special passports from Türkiye and Armenia became eligible to obtain free e-visas as of Jan. 1, 2026, providing greater visa facilitation.

Following talks on May 4 between Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Pashinyan, a memorandum of understanding was signed regarding the joint restoration of the Ani Bridge, with one end in Türkiye and the other in Armenia.

U.S.-Iran deal

On the key deal between the U.S. and Iran to end their conflict, Fidan said the two countries have reached an agreement in principle on key elements, but technical issues, including the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium and the implementation of a future enrichment moratorium, remain unresolved. He said technical teams still needed to determine how 400 kilograms of enriched uranium in Iran would be diluted, monitored and verified.

“There is a principled understanding regarding the dilution of 400 kilograms of enriched uranium in Iran. But who will carry out the dilution, who will oversee it, and how it will be verified still need to be discussed,” he said.

Fidan said wartime conditions, mutual distrust and regional developments, including Israel’s occupation of Lebanon, had slowed negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

“While the U.S. side could respond within an hour, the Iranians sometimes needed a week,” he said, adding that he had encouraged both sides to engage in direct talks.

The Turkish foreign minister also criticized Israel’s regional policies, calling them “a global problem.”

“Israel wants destruction in the region. It wants to occupy some countries and employ terrorism. This has consequences for global security as well as the economy. We are seeing Israel face increasing diplomatic backlash.

“We hope this diplomatic response will produce results and that all countries in our region will live in peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.

Fidan said the conflict involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel had shifted international attention away from Gaza but expressed hope regional countries would refocus on the enclave once the crisis eased. He added that efforts to reach a framework agreement for the second phase of Gaza cease-fire negotiations were continuing with the involvement of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT).

Muslim-majority countries, including regional powers Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, on Thursday criticized Israel for arson attacks on two mosques in the occupied West Bank, after Palestinian officials said illegal Israeli settlers set the sites ablaze in the latest escalation of violence in the territory.

The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt lambasted “the continued and escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank,” pointing to the mosques that were set on fire a day earlier.

“The Ministers hold Israel – as the occupying power – responsible for these attacks,” they said in a joint statement.

On Wednesday, Israeli settlers set fire to mosques in the West Bank villages of Jiljiliya, north of Ramallah, and neighboring Mazari an-Nubani, their mayors said, with AFP journalists at one site seeing scorched walls and graffiti.

Israel’s military confirmed the arson and graffiti on the mosques, but did not identify the perpetrators.

AFP journalists who visited one torched mosque saw graffiti daubed on the walls in Hebrew. Some read “vengeance” and: “Hi, from the Hilltop Youth.”

The Hilltop Youth is a terrorist group that consists of radical Israelis in the West Bank who commit violence toward Palestinians, whom they seek to evict from areas they want to take over.

The incidents came during a period of increased attacks against Palestinian communities by settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank since October 2023.

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Turkish authorities on Friday detained dozens of suspects, including the mayors of two opposition-run municipalities, as part of separate investigations into alleged bribery, corruption and abuse of office.

In Istanbul, prosecutors ordered the detention of 41 suspects, including Adalar Mayor Ali Ercan Akpolat, following an investigation into allegations that municipal officials accepted bribes in exchange for issuing permits to unauthorized businesses and construction projects in protected historical areas.

The Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the investigation focused on claims that officials in the Adalar district, a protected natural and archaeological site off Istanbul’s coast, allowed extensive renovations and construction activities to proceed under the guise of “minor repairs” in return for bribes.

According to prosecutors, complaints and witness statements prompted an inquiry into alleged offenses including bribery, extortion, forgery of official documents, abuse of office and violations of cultural heritage protection laws.

Investigators examined financial records, phone data and witness testimonies and concluded that some business owners and property developers were allegedly allowed to operate without proper licenses or continue unauthorized construction activities after reaching illicit agreements with municipal officials.

Authorities also alleged that large administrative fines imposed on some unlicensed businesses and illegal structures were later reduced through fraudulent paperwork after bribe negotiations. Prosecutors said evidence in the case points to at least 40 separate incidents involving 47 suspects.

Police carried out simultaneous raids at 90 addresses across Istanbul and the provinces of Kocaeli, Rize and Sivas. Officials said 41 suspects were taken into custody during the operation.

Separately, authorities seized $258,000 in cash and 13 gold bracelets during a search of the residence of a contractor identified only by the initials M.Ö., a former member of the Adalar Municipal Council, according to local media reports.

In a separate operation on the same day, gendarmerie forces detained Silifke Mayor Mustafa Turgut and several municipal employees in the southern province of Mersin.

Security forces raided Silifke Municipality headquarters early Friday and conducted searches inside the building as part of an ongoing investigation. Authorities have not yet disclosed the full scope of the allegations or the number of people detained.

The operations are the latest in a series of investigations targeting local administrations across Türkiye, where corruption allegations involving municipal officials have increasingly drawn public and political scrutiny.

Turkish authorities emphasized that the investigations remain ongoing and that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

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Turkish and Central Asian officials on Wednesday highlighted growing strategic cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity and technology as the Central Asia-Türkiye Forum opened in Ankara amid shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics.

The forum, organized by the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), the International Institute for Central Asia and Hasan Kalyoncu University under the theme “A Shared Future in a Changing World,” brought together policymakers, diplomats and academics from Türkiye and Central Asia.

Speaking at the opening session, SETA Foreign Policy Research Director Murat Yeşiltaş said the international system is undergoing a period of profound transformation, making dialogue among reliable partners increasingly important.

“Relations between Türkiye and Central Asia are not merely the result of geopolitical calculations,” Yeşiltaş said, emphasizing the role of shared history, culture and heritage in shaping cooperation.

He noted that the region has become increasingly central to global connectivity, energy security, transportation corridors, supply chains and regional stability.

SETA Coordinator General Nebi Miş said strong political will and regular dialogue among leaders had helped transform a common identity into political cooperation. He argued that partnerships based on trust and shared values are becoming a strategic advantage as global supply chains, energy routes and transportation networks are reconfigured.

Miş stressed that infrastructure projects and trade alone are insufficient to sustain long-term cooperation, calling for shared analyses, coordinated regulatory frameworks and joint assessments of global risks.

Javlon Vakhabov, director of the International Institute for Central Asia and deputy foreign policy adviser to the Uzbek president, noted Türkiye has consistently supported the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Central Asian states since they gained independence.

Describing Türkiye as a close friend and strategic partner, Vakhabov said Ankara plays an important role in promoting regional connectivity and dialogue across the Middle East, Central Asia and the broader Eurasian region.

He also highlighted the growing importance of the Middle Corridor, describing it as a backbone of cooperation between Türkiye and Central Asia.

Vakhabov said future collaboration should increasingly focus on technology and digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital public services, agricultural technologies and water-saving solutions.

Uzbek Ambassador Ilham Haydarov pointed to significant progress in bilateral relations over the past 18 months, while Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tashkent Ufuk Ulutaş, speaking virtually, said political dialogue and cooperation between the two countries have expanded rapidly in recent years.

Participants said the forum offers an opportunity to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, logistics and digital connectivity at a time of growing uncertainty in the international system.

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