Politics
Turkish Parliament speaker says UN failed to address global conflicts
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said Wednesday that institutions underpinning the current international system have collapsed and failed to address global conflicts, criticizing the U.N. as ineffective in preventing aggression and ensuring accountability.
Speaking at an event titled “Türkiye in a Changing World: A Partner, a Balancer, a Strategic Actor,” hosted by the Finland-Türkiye Interparliamentary Friendship Group, Kurtulmuş said the global order was facing a profound institutional crisis.
“The institutions of the world system have collapsed,” Kurtulmuş noted. He argued that the UN, which was established to prevent conflicts and whose founding principles remain widely respected, had failed to fulfill its mission.
“To put it plainly, the United Nations means little more than an office in New York,” he stated.
Recalling remarks he made at an earlier meeting in Türkiye, Kurtulmuş added:
“Unfortunately, the United Nations is no different from a cafe in New York. It has no influence, cannot resolve any conflict, cannot stop any aggression, cannot tell any criminal that they are guilty, and remains in a state of helplessness.”
Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tchiani will pay an official visit to Türkiye on June 4 at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with the two leaders set to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation and exchange views on regional and global developments, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said Wednesday.
The visit is expected to focus on strengthening ties between Türkiye and Niger, with leaders reviewing bilateral relations across a wide range of fields and evaluating potential steps to further deepen cooperation.
The discussions will also cover pressing regional and international issues, allowing both sides to exchange views on recent developments and areas of mutual interest.
The visit comes as Türkiye continues to expand its diplomatic, economic and security engagement across Africa, while advancing partnerships based on mutual benefit and shared development goals.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump plans to attend the NATO summit in Türkiye’s capital Ankara next month, while emphasizing Washington’s continued commitment to the alliance and warning that Israeli actions in Lebanon could undermine efforts to sustain the Iran-U.S. cease-fire.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV during a visit to Singapore, Fidan said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had spoken with Trump several times over the past month and that the U.S. president reaffirmed his plans to attend the gathering during those conversations.
“As far as we know, yes, he is planning to attend,” Fidan said.
The foreign minister dismissed speculation that Washington could withdraw from NATO, saying he had seen no indication that the United States was preparing to distance itself from the alliance despite political rhetoric surrounding the issue.
Fidan said the United States has continued pressing allies to increase defense spending and assume greater responsibility for their own security, adding that European members had already begun boosting military budgets in response.
“When leaders come together, we will review the progress that has been made,” he said.
Addressing regional tensions, Fidan voiced support for ongoing diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran, saying both sides appeared sincere in efforts to preserve the cease-fire and keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
However, he warned that Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon posed a serious risk to the process.
“I am sure that both the Americans and the Iranians are sincere,” Fidan said. “They want the cease-fire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. But I am not sure about Israel’s intentions.”
Fidan said he recently spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi regarding Israel’s expanded military activity in Lebanon.
According to Fidan, Tehran believes it reached an understanding with Washington on achieving a cease-fire across all fronts and views Israel’s latest actions as a violation of that arrangement.
“I think this will make it extremely difficult for them to continue negotiations,” he said.
The foreign minister also recalled Trump’s recent social media statement following a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which the U.S. president said the parties had agreed not to attack one another.
Asked about the possibility of renewed U.S. strikes on Iran, Fidan said he hoped such a scenario would be avoided, citing potential consequences for global energy markets, inflation and regional security.
“When we witnessed such a situation previously, we saw its impact on energy, security and inflation worldwide,” he said.
Fidan noted that regional conflicts continue to place pressure on Türkiye’s economy, particularly through rising energy prices, despite the country’s access to pipeline supplies from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran.
He said diplomats were working to prevent further escalation and create conditions conducive to peace, stability, development and trade.
On reports that Türkiye could seek a dollar swap line from the United States, Fidan said he was unaware of any such proposal being discussed by the government.
“I know such an issue has not come onto the agenda,” he said.
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement condemning continued incursions by extremist illegal Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif, in occupied East Jerusalem.
The ministers denounced the visits, which they said were carried out under the protection of Israeli forces, as well as the raising of Israeli flags inside the compound’s courtyards.
They described the actions as provocative and unacceptable, arguing that they constitute a flagrant violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the longstanding historical and legal status quo governing the holy site.
The ministers also condemned what they called systematic Israeli measures aimed at altering the historical, legal and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem and undermining the status of its Islamic and Christian holy sites.
Reaffirming their rejection of any attempts to change the status quo in Jerusalem, the ministers stressed the importance of preserving existing arrangements while recognizing the special role of Jordan’s Hashemite custodianship over the holy sites.
The statement reiterated that the entire 144-dunam Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is an exclusive Muslim place of worship and emphasized that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, which operates under Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, retains sole authority over the administration of the site and access arrangements.
The ministers held Israeli authorities responsible for halting what they described as escalating violations, warning that repeated actions at the site risk increasing tensions, fueling instability and extremism, and undermining international efforts to achieve peace.
They called for an immediate end to what they characterized as illegal and provocative practices and urged full respect for the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The joint statement also reaffirmed unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The ministers reiterated their backing for efforts to end the Israeli occupation and achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, in line with international law, relevant U.N. resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed efforts to deepen engagement between Türkiye and Armenia during a phone call, with the two leaders reviewing the ongoing normalization process and regional developments.
Pashinyan congratulated Erdoğan on the recent Eid al-Adha holiday, according to a statement from the Communications Directorate.
During the conversation, Erdoğan said the normalization process between Türkiye and Armenia was continuing through measures aimed at paving the way for direct trade, highlighting ongoing efforts to build practical cooperation between the neighboring countries.
The president also reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to promoting peace and stability across the region, stressing that Ankara would continue to support initiatives that contribute to dialogue, cooperation and lasting regional security.
The call marked the latest contact between the two leaders as Ankara and Yerevan pursue a gradual normalization process aimed at improving bilateral relations and expanding areas of cooperation.
Earlier this year, Pashinyan said Armenia would halt its campaign for international recognition of the 1915 mass killings of Armenians as genocide.
Ankara and Yerevan appointed special envoys in late 2021 to lead a normalization process, a year after Armenia’s defeat in a war with Azerbaijan over the then-disputed Karabakh region.
In 2022, Türkiye and Armenia resumed commercial flights after a two-year pause.
A previous attempt to normalize relations, a 2009 accord to open the border, was never ratified by Armenia and abandoned in 2018.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday that his meetings in Indonesia were highly productive, covering a broad range of issues from defense cooperation and energy to artificial intelligence and the halal food industry.
In a statement posted on NSosyal social media account following his official visit, Fidan noted discussions with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Foreign Minister Sugiono focused on ongoing cooperation and future joint initiatives between the two countries.
“Following our visit to Singapore, today’s engagements in our strategic partner Indonesia were highly productive in terms of advancing our multidimensional agenda,” Fidan said.
According to Fidan, the talks addressed cooperation in defense industries, transportation, energy, artificial intelligence and the halal food sector, as well as steps that could further strengthen bilateral ties.
He said both sides also reviewed projects aimed at achieving the $10 billion bilateral trade target set by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Prabowo Subianto.
“We evaluated in detail the projects that will help us reach the $10 billion trade volume target,” Fidan said, adding that the vision demonstrated by both governments showed their readiness to pursue more concrete and effective cooperation in the coming period.
In April 2025, President Erdoğan noted that they discussed steps that can be taken to raise the trade volume to the target of $10 billion in a balanced and mutual manner in a joint news conference with his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto, as both leaders vowed to further boost cooperation.
For his part, Subianto hailed Ankara’s role in regional affairs and said Indonesia wants to take part in KAAN and submarine projects.
“I invited Turkish companies to invest. As leaders of the Global South and strategic partners, Indonesia and Türkiye must take on the responsibility of shaping a new global order,” he said, and added, “Indonesia is interested in participating in the KAAN and submarine projects.”
The discussions also included regional and international issues, particularly developments in the Middle East and evolving strategic dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region.
Fidan said the two sides exchanged views on a range of global issues and reaffirmed their close coordination on the Palestinian issue.
He stressed that Türkiye and Indonesia would continue their intensive cooperation as two friendly nations sharing common values and goals.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Ankara on Tuesday, reaffirming Türkiye’s commitment to supporting efforts to end the conflict in Sudan while advancing cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy and defense.
The two leaders held talks at the Presidential Complex, where they reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional developments.
According to a statement released by the Presidential Communications Directorate, Erdoğan stressed that Türkiye continues to work toward ending the bloodshed in Sudan and supporting initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability in the country.
The meeting also focused on expanding cooperation between Ankara and Khartoum across a range of strategic sectors. Erdoğan said efforts were underway to further strengthen ties in trade, agriculture, energy and defense, reflecting both countries’ interest in deepening their partnership.
Türkiye has maintained close diplomatic engagement with Sudan and has repeatedly voiced support for initiatives aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in the country.
Ankara has consistently emphasized the importance of preserving Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It has also called for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023, warning that continued instability poses risks to regional and global security.
Türkiye has also continued its diplomatic efforts and humanitarian assistance aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people and supporting long-term stability in the country.
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