“Climate, Water, Food and Security” was the theme of the first edition of Erciyes Summit held in the central Turkish province of Kayseri this week. As experts and policymakers highlighted that climate change, water scarcity and food insecurity evolved into national security challenges, Türkiye’s role was also under the spotlight to counter these risks.

Türkiye’s growing geopolitical influence provides leverage to the country in environmental diplomacy and food security, especially in its region, beset with multiple crises and conflicts.

In an interview with Daily Sabah, Nabil Gangi, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Sub-Regional Coordinator for Central Asia and Representative in Türkiye ad interim, highlighted the nation’s unique strategic advantages as it prepares to host the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP31).

Gangi expressed strong confidence in Türkiye’s capacity to lead the upcoming summit, pointing to the country’s domestic milestones and regional depth. He said Türkiye was “the right place” to host the summit.

“With its strategic vision, with its Central Asian depth, and the capacity that it has through Mr. Murat Kurum (Minister of Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change) and basically the entire ministry around it, we have a very strong capacity that would enable Türkiye to shine globally. Türkiye has been addressing issues that are at the core of the COP31 and climate change, whether it is land degradation, water scarcity, agriculture, resilience, sustainability. All these things basically have been at the core of the strategic plan of Türkiye. So what Türkiye has been learning and applying over the past few years is an excellent example to share globally,” he said. He noted that Türkiye was both learning and teaching and thus would be an excellent host for COP31.

In November, Türkiye will host COP31 for the first time, with participation expected to exceed 100,000 attendees. The summit in the southern province of Antalya is set to position the country as an active implementation partner in global climate governance, supported by both on-the-ground operations and integrated digital coordination systems. It is expected to focus heavily on climate adaptation, financing and implementation of commitments made under the Paris Agreement.

A COP31 Trust Fund initiative led by Murat Kurum is expected to mobilize financial resources for innovative climate solutions and accelerate implementation pipelines across sectors.

Speaking at the opening session of the Erciyes Summit, Minister Kurum said climate change is no longer solely an environmental issue but a challenge affecting economies, societies and national stability. “Drought has become a global issue,” Kurum said, noting that declining water resources are affecting agricultural productivity, drinking water security and industrial output. He warned that pressure on water resources directly affects food production and could ultimately create broader security concerns. “When water weakens, production weakens. When production weakens, pressure on food supplies increases. As food pressure rises, social stability and public security are affected at their roots,” Kurum said.

Food hub

Türkiye also emerged as a critical actor, providing a diplomatic and logistical lifeline in a region embroiled in turmoil and associated humanitarian crises. Most notably, Ankara was behind Black Sea Grain Initiative for safe shipping of grain at the height of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Reflecting on Türkiye’s role, Gangi suggested that Türkiye could serve as a permanent food security hub, especially for the eastern Mediterranean.

“The Black Sea corridor was instrumental in breaking a big obstacle that was faced around the world, basically causing immense damage, hunger, even civil unrest that reached up to even Sri Lanka even, among other several other countries, the Middle East and so forth. Türkiye has played a very strong role in allowing this grain to pass through its initiative. I believe Türkiye has got a very strong clout regionally, and indeed, globally, because its strategic vision doesn’t only (focus on) Europe but also (on Central Asia),” Gangi said.

Gangi stated that Türkiye had “excellent relations with Central Asian countries” as well as advancing ties with key Arab countries in the region. “All this could be used for breaking some impasses that are leading to a food crisis, whether in Gaza or in Lebanon.”

He highlighted that political might and renewed strategic alliances with key countries in the region gave Türkiye a very strong position to break the obstacles and help overcome food insecurity.

Gangi said that FAO looked to Türkiye as it did to other global and regional players, to set the ground politically for the organization to carry out technical work on the ground. Responding to a question regarding the situation in Gaza, where attacks on agricultural systems and water by Israel, despite the cease-fire and how FAO and Türkiye can work together to rebuild the food systems on the ground, Gangi said FAO would continue to work with farmers and producers in Gaza as much as it can, and it basically needed a political environment to do so.

Aid funding

FAO and similar organizations are among those affected by funding cuts in recent years, especially by the United States, which has been a major contributor to organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP). Answering a question on the matter, Gangi said funding overseas developments have seen changes recently and they had to adapt to this change. “In the past, the main funding partners were countries, overseas development agencies of those countries. Today, at least for FAO, one of the biggest donations are through the Green Climate Fund and other multilateral funds,” he said.

“We have to adapt to this. They come with particular requirements and we need to sort of understand more and more the requirements. New administrations, particularly across the Atlantic, come with particular needs and demands of how they see their contribution to the overseas, whether on a humanitarian or in development. We engaged with different administrations, the EU, with the United States, with different administrations to see how we can adapt to the funding mechanisms and the priorities that they deem for themselves as donor partners in the different parts of the world. I think we need, we all need to do that,” he said.

Gangi underlined that climate change was no longer a “scientific phenomenon” and was something “felt and seen,” adding that it was much more than rise of the temperatures or water scarcity.

“Water could be scarce tomorrow and could be in abundance after tomorrow. So the issue is the predictability. And the predictability is what we try to help farmers face,” he said. He acknowledged that uncertainty was nothing new for farmers who have been challenged by weather changes, but they were focusing on helping them by changing the way they think.

“We see patterns of cultivation, of irrigation changing. So we are doing the same, but it is (more) based on adapting to what our scientific evidence is showing us today.

On a question about his thoughts on the international community’s increasing investment in high-end technology like artificial intelligence and chips instead of investment in seeds, Gangi said the world needed seeds like it needed land to sow them upon.

“When the land is degraded, when the seeds are no longer resilient, then we need scientific innovation in order for us to make a resilient seed and a fertile land that would grow the food. And how this food basically, how we manufacture this food, not only to respond to food security, but nutrition as well,” he said.

As Türkiye and China mark the 55th anniversary of relations, Türkiye’s ambassador to Beijing says relations between the two countries continue to deepen, driven by expanding economic ties and a shared outlook on global, international, and regional issues centered on peace, stability, and development.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) on Saturday, Selçuk Ünal said ties between the two ancient civilizations extend far beyond the formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 1971.

He noted that the historic Silk Road served as a bridge connecting the eastern and western ends of Asia, facilitating trade, cultural exchange, technological transfers, and diplomatic contacts between Turks and Chinese for centuries.

“The Silk Road connected two civilizations and two nations. Today, that connection continues under different names,” Ünal said.

The ambassador emphasized that although geographical distance and limited transportation options constrained diplomatic contacts in earlier periods, cultural interaction between the two peoples remained constant through the Silk Road network.

Ünal recalled that official Turkish representation in China began during the early Republican era, with diplomatic contacts continuing despite difficult wartime conditions.

He noted that Türkiye maintained its diplomatic presence in China during World War II even as many countries closed their missions.

Regarding the establishment of diplomatic ties, Ünal said Türkiye officially recognized the People’s Republic of China in 1971, amid major shifts in the international system.

He noted that negotiations were conducted through the two countries’ embassies in Paris and diplomatic relations were formally established through an exchange of notes on Aug. 4, 1971.

Highlighting the transformation in bilateral relations over the past quarter-century, Ünal said China has become Türkiye’s largest trading partner not only in Asia but also globally.

“In this year, when we mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, China has become our largest trading partner in the world,” he said, adding: “Our trade volume exceeds $50 billion.”

Ünal pointed to growing connectivity between the two countries, noting that Turkish Airlines operates two daily flights to four Chinese cities, while most major Chinese airlines fly to Istanbul.

More than 50 passenger flights operate weekly between the countries, alongside increasing cargo traffic.

He added that Türkiye’s diplomatic presence in China has expanded beyond its embassy in Beijing to include consulates general in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.

“Relations are at a more advanced and positive stage than before, and I believe we will take them even further,” he said.

Ünal said the two countries are working in line with the vision set out by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chinese President Xi Jinping to strengthen cooperation in political, economic, and commercial fields, as well as in connectivity, energy, artificial intelligence, and the green economy.

“Fundamentally, both countries view the international system through the lens of peace, stability, preventing wars and, where possible, ending them,” he said.

“In that sense, we actually look at many global, international, and regional issues from the same perspective.”

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland but warned that resolving the differences between the two countries may take time, and Israel was “waiting” to undermine the deal to end the conflict.

Fidan was in Egypt over the weekend where he met Egyptian officials and attended a quadrilateral meeting with foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Sunday’s talks were focused on U.S.-Iran negotiations, which unfolded around the same time in Switzerland.

The minister said he held a phone call on Sunday with U.S. special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff on U.S.-Iran talks and the matter was the main topic of the quadrilateral meeting.

He told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the U.S. and Iran had 60 days to discuss certain matters for permanent peace.

Some of these issues to be discussed are also technical matters, particularly issues related to nuclear matters. Teams need to work on these issues. Teams also need to work on matters related to sanctions. A mechanism for preventing conflict needs to be established. All of these are somewhat technical issues. However, political will has been demonstrated on the important matters. We understand that. In the coming days, I believe they will overcome these problems through intensive efforts,” he said.

Fidan, in the meantime, urged caution about “two things” on the issue. “The issues (U.S. and Iran) are discussing are truly important issues. Resolving their details, the technical details, may not be easy. We may see bottlenecks from time to time. We need to be prepared for this. Secondly, of course, there is always Israel waiting in the corner, ready to try to sabotage the issues whenever it finds an opportunity,” he warned.

On his talks in Cairo, Fidan said that the past two days saw a very intensive round of diplomatic contacts.

“Yesterday, we held an important meeting. First, as soon as we arrived, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United States held an important discussion on Libya. While discussing Libya, we also had the opportunity to bring up other issues related to the Mediterranean. We were also able to raise some issues concerning Africa. There was a very good exchange of views among the four countries. There were discussions that led us to reach certain understandings on certain issues. Today, early in the morning, we were received by President Sissi. We had the opportunity to hear from him about the positive outcomes of the format we have created by coming together as these four countries. We also had the opportunity to convey our president’s messages and greetings to him. Later, as the foreign ministers of the four countries, we had a long working session here today,” he said.

“Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt and Pakistan, these four countries are truly major countries of the region, countries with capacity and responsibility. They have large populations, vast geographies and significant capabilities. Of course, taking ownership of the problems in our region, and for these four countries to assume responsibility for the region’s political, security-related and economic challenges, seek solutions, make regional efforts and mobilize international efforts toward resolving these issues, this is currently the greatest focus of the four countries,” he added.

Fidan said a pressing matter at hand was the future of a “post-war region.” He underlined that the region should not be forced to impose a vision influenced by outside forces.

“As countries of the region, we are working to put forward a vision within the framework of international cooperation,” he said.

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The Ukrainian navy said that a “large-scale fire” broke out on the Turkish cargo vessel Victress, which was Panama-flagged, following a drone strike by Russia on Monday. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said in a Telegram post that the strike on the vessel killed one of its crew.

Moscow and Kyiv have escalated attacks on each other in recent weeks, as US-led talks on ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II remain effectively frozen.

“A drone strike set fire to a vessel sailing under the Panama flag. A crew member was killed, a 58-year-old cook, a citizen of Egypt,” Kuleba wrote on Telegram. He said that eight sailors, including citizens of Türkiye and India, fled the attack on a life raft, and that the vessel “sustained significant damage and lost seaworthiness”.

“This incident once again demonstrates that the Russian Federation continues to violate the norms of international maritime law and to pose threats to civilian shipping,” the navy said in a Telegram post.

Russians also attacked vessels sailing under the flags of Palau and Belize, with no casualties, according to Kuleba.

Türkiye has been on alert against the spillover of Russia-Ukraine conflict in its territorial waters in Black Sea. In recent months, Türkiye intercepted several unmanned aerial and naval vehicles and discovered crashed drones near its shores. Turkish authorities have also demolished stray naval mines in Black Sea. The escalating spillover prompted Türkiye and other littoral countries of Black Sea set up a task force to demine the territorial waters.

Regional authorities in Ukraine separately reported on Monday that Russian attacks killed two people, one in a missile strike in the port city of Odesa and another in a drone attack in Zaporizhzhia in the country’s southeast.

“Three people have been wounded, another woman remains trapped in a burning house following an enemy attack on Zaporizhzhia,” Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration wrote on Telegram on Monday.

“Sadly, the death of the woman who was inside the house destroyed by the enemy drone has been confirmed,” Fedorov wrote in a later update. In Odesa, Ukraine’s emergency service said that Russian attacks set fire to an agricultural enterprise. “One person was killed as a result of yesterday’s missile strike on Odesa region’s civilian infrastructure. A further three people were wounded,” the emergency service said.

In Russia, aviation authorities briefly closed Moscow’s four airports on Monday after a flurry of drones were intercepted. Russia’s ministry of defence said on Monday morning that air defences destroyed 301 Ukrainian drones across the country overnight.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan joined his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Cairo at a meeting hosted by Egypt’s top diplomat, Badr Abdelatty. The meeting on Sunday came one day after Fidan’s arrival in the Egyptian capital, where he also held talks with Prince Faisal and Abdelatty on a Libya-themed meeting. Sunday’s talks focused on implementation of a deal between the United States and Iran.

Around the same hours, U.S. and Iranian delegations met in Switzerland. The ministers launched a discussion in Cairo over several topics, particularly regional developments and the way forward for implementation of a deal between Iran and the United States.

This is the fourth quadrilateral meeting of the countries. The first meeting was held in Riyadh on March 20 and was followed by another meeting in Islamabad. Fidan hosted the third meeting on April 17, in the southern Turkish city of Antalya. All meetings focused on the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict and ties between the four countries.

During his visit to Cairo, Fidan was also received by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

Türkiye, along with Pakistan, is among the leading countries that mobilized diplomacy to end the conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

Top-level talks began in the Swiss mountain resort of Bürgenstock on Sunday between U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iranian representatives.

The talks were overshadowed by reports of further clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in Lebanon despite the cease-fire in the conflict.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry played down any high expectations from the talks. Speaking to state broadcaster IRIB, ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghai said there were no plans to extend them beyond a single day. Baghai said the talks would start with bilateral meetings between the Iranian representatives and the Pakistani and Qatari delegations, followed by a round with the U.S. delegation in the afternoon.

Working groups at the expert level were also planned, he said. These would deal with the release of blocked Iranian bank accounts and the possible easing of sanctions, he added.

Under the terms of the cease-fire between Washington and Tehran, a final agreement is to be reached within 60 days on Iran’s nuclear program.

However, the truce already appears to be vulnerable, with Iran’s military announcing on Saturday it was again closing the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping in response to the cease-fire violations in Lebanon.

Trump meanwhile threatened to impose a U.S.-controlled transit fee in the key waterway if a deal is not achieved within the 60-day timeframe.

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Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Monday submitted a new judicial reform package to Parliament, proposing a series of measures aimed at accelerating court proceedings, reducing judicial workload and expanding the use of digital technologies in the legal system.

The bill, commonly referred to as the “12th Judicial Package,” was prepared within the framework of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Fourth Judicial Reform Strategy Document and contains 30 articles designed to improve the efficiency of the judiciary.

Speaking at a news conference in Parliament, AK Party Deputy Chair Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu said the proposal seeks to ensure that trials are completed within a reasonable time and to further strengthen public confidence in the justice system.

“The effective exercise of the right to seek justice is among the strongest pillars of a strong state,” Akbaşoğlu said, emphasizing that judicial reforms have remained a priority for the government since 2002.

Among the key provisions, the package introduces a rule limiting the interval between court hearings to a maximum of three months in most cases. It also expands the use of audio and video communication technologies in judicial proceedings, allowing preliminary hearings to be conducted remotely.

The proposal includes measures intended to simplify administrative court procedures and prevent cases from being delayed because of jurisdictional disputes between courts. It also broadens the scope of disputes that can be resolved by a single judge in administrative courts, particularly in cases involving students and public officials.

Akbaşoğlu noted that the reform would also make it easier for citizens to collect receivables from public institutions by requiring a written application and bank account information to be submitted before enforcement proceedings are initiated.

The package introduces changes to inheritance-related property sales, requiring the first auction in cases involving inherited real estate to be conducted among heirs before the property can be offered more broadly.

Another provision seeks to limit the unnecessary use of expert witnesses by making referrals to experts in matters that can be resolved through judges’ and prosecutors’ legal expertise subject to disciplinary sanctions.

The bill also amends regulations governing searches and seizures of computers and digital records during criminal investigations. Under the proposal, prosecutors would be able to order searches of digital devices in urgent circumstances, subject to judicial approval within 24 hours.

Digital data obtained during investigations would be stored as judicial evidence and, unless otherwise required, destroyed 15 years after a decision not to prosecute or after a final court ruling. Individuals would also have the right to request the deletion of stored data if the purpose of retaining it no longer exists.

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