Politics
Türkiye’s Parliament meets behind closed doors to discuss regional war
Türkiye’s Parliament held a rare closed-door session on Tuesday to discuss the escalating war between the U.S., Israel and Iran and its potential consequences for Türkiye and the wider Middle East, as officials warned that the crisis reflects a broader breakdown in the international system.
The meeting of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) was chaired by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and attended by senior government officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, along with leaders and deputies of the country’s political parties.
The closed session came amid rising tensions across the region following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions, raising concerns about a wider regional conflict and its implications for Türkiye’s security and diplomacy.
Opening the session, Kurtulmuş said recent developments in the Middle East were exposing deep structural problems in the global political order and warned that international norms were increasingly being undermined.
“We are all witnessing that the recent events reveal profound tremors regarding the nature of the international system,” Kurtulmuş told lawmakers in his opening address. “The attacks against Iran have further destabilized an already fragile balance in our region.”
He said the ongoing conflict should not be viewed solely through a military lens, arguing that it reflects a broader crisis in the rules-based international order. “The picture we are facing cannot be explained merely as a military development,” he said. “What we see is a systemic crisis where the use of force is increasingly replacing the rule of law and where international mechanisms are being rendered ineffective.”
Kurtulmuş added that global institutions designed to maintain peace and enforce international law were losing their ability to restrain powerful states.
“There are rules, but they cannot be applied against the powerful,” he said. “Concepts such as legitimacy, sovereignty, diplomacy and deterrence are being eroded.”
According to Kurtulmuş, the erosion of the rules-based international system signals a broader transformation in global politics.
“It must be clearly stated that the international system has entered a serious phase of disintegration in terms of its nature and functioning,” he said. “Law is being replaced by power, principles by arbitrariness, and collective conscience by strategic calculations.”
Kurtulmuş also highlighted the humanitarian consequences of ongoing conflicts in the region, pointing to civilian casualties in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon.
“The heaviest price is always paid by civilians,” he said. “The humanitarian tragedy caused by the killings, starvation and destruction in Gaza continues with all its weight. Now the suffering of civilians in Iran and the deepening losses in Lebanon stand before us as new chapters of this tragedy.”
He said there was no difference between the pain of victims across the region, saying, “The pain of innocent people buried in Gaza’s soil is no different from the pain of those who lost their lives in Iran or Lebanon.”
Kurtulmuş also stressed that Türkiye could not remain silent in the face of regional injustice and instability.
“Our moral and political stance as a nation is clear,” he said. “Our civilization and historical consciousness require us to speak the truth openly against injustice. Remaining silent in such times is not neutrality but often the most comfortable refuge of oppression.”
“Türkiye cannot remain silent in such times. This Parliament cannot remain silent.”
The speaker argued that several crises across the Middle East, including those in Gaza, Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen and Somalia, were interconnected and reflected broader regional instability.
He also said Israel’s policies toward neighboring countries had been a major driver of escalating tensions in the region. “The aggressive line pursued by Israel toward regional countries has become a determining factor,” Kurtulmuş said.
At the same time, he warned that a widening conflict could draw in more actors and deepen global instability, calling for an immediate halt to attacks and for diplomatic solutions to prevent the conflict from expanding.
Kurtulmuş emphasized that Türkiye was pursuing an active diplomatic approach aimed at preventing further escalation, noting that Türkiye evaluates regional developments not only in terms of power balances but also their humanitarian, legal and political consequences. “Our state acts with a principled, calm and results-oriented diplomacy,” he said.
He also underscored that Türkiye would continue diplomatic efforts while safeguarding its national security and regional stability.
“While making the strongest efforts for peace, we also have the capability and determination to protect our national security, our borders and the peace of our people,” he said.
Kurtulmuş said Ankara would not allow regional turmoil to undermine its internal security initiatives, including efforts to combat terrorism.
“No attempt will be allowed to transform regional shocks into new instability through terrorist organizations or proxy actors,” he remarked.
He also criticized what he described as double standards in international reactions to violations of sovereignty in the region. “Violations of the sovereignty of regional states have created a deep crisis of confidence in global public opinion,” he said.
Kurtulmuş further accused Israel’s leadership of fueling regional instability, describing its policies as dangerous and unsustainable. He argued that the main problem in the region was the “aggressive and lawless” approach of Israel’s current leadership and its supporters.
“A governing mentality that throws the region into flames and disregards law and conscience cannot be sustainable,” he stressed.
Minister’s briefing
Following Kurtulmuş’s remarks, Parliament moved into a closed session, during which journalists and visitors were asked to leave the chamber.
Security measures were tightened inside the assembly’s building, with press offices cleared, doors locked and signal-blocking jammers activated.
During the session, Foreign Minister Fidan and Defense Minister Güler delivered briefings to lawmakers on the latest developments in the Middle East conflict and its possible implications for Türkiye.
According to parliamentary officials, both ministers spoke for about 30 minutes each, providing updates on diplomatic efforts and security assessments.
After the briefings, representatives of political party groups addressed the assembly for 20 minutes each, expressing their views on the unfolding regional crisis. Two lawmakers from parties without parliamentary groups also spoke during the session.
The closed meeting lasted approximately four hours.
At the end of the session, Deputy Parliament Speaker Pervin Buldan announced that the assembly would reconvene on Wednesday at 2 p.m. local time.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday pledged to build a stronger and “terror-free Türkiye” for younger generations, saying the country would continue advancing toward its “Century of Türkiye” vision with youth at the forefront.
Speaking during a reception for young people and national athletes at the Presidential Complex in Ankara to mark the May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, Erdoğan said Türkiye’s youth represented the “pioneers, architects and guides” of a new era for the country.
“We are trying to free our country from a half-century-old scourge through the process of a terror-free Türkiye while also strengthening our national unity and solidarity,” Erdoğan said. “Our greatest goal is for you not to experience the hardships and difficulties that we endured.”
The president said Türkiye would continue investing in youth “in every field” as it moves toward its long-term national goals.
Erdoğan also highlighted the historical significance of May 19, 1919, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived in Samsun and launched the War of Independence against occupying forces following World War I.
“The first page of our epic National Struggle was written on May 19, 1919, with the youth of Anatolia and with the ink of our nation’s independence and future,” he said.
During the program, Erdoğan met with young participants and athletes from across Türkiye and abroad, answering questions and holding informal discussions.
In a lighter moment during the gathering, Erdoğan said he still plays basketball three times a week and joked that he scored 68 points during a morning game.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned events and statements held in Greece on May 19 over so-called “Pontus” allegations, criticized Athens for distorting history and exploiting historical grievances for political purposes.
In a statement marking the anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s arrival in Samsun in 1919 – the beginning of Türkiye’s War of Independence against occupying powers, including Greece – the ministry said Greece continues to promote “groundless claims lacking any legal basis” through legislation adopted in 1994 and educational programs taught in schools nationwide.
The ministry said Greece was attempting to cover up “its own atrocities and war crimes” committed during the occupation of western Anatolia after the failed pursuit of the “Megali Idea,” referring to the expansionist vision that sought to unite former Byzantine territories under Greek rule.
Türkiye stressed that crimes committed by the Greek army during the occupation were documented in Allied investigation commission reports and recorded in Article 59 of the Lausanne Peace Treaty.
Calling on Greek authorities to stop “abusing history for political concerns,” Ankara urged Athens to remember massacres committed against Turks and other ethnic groups, beginning with the Tripolitsa massacre in 1821 and continuing during the Greek occupation of Izmir and western Anatolia after May 15, 1919.
The ministry also urged Greece to abandon rhetoric that fuels hostility and instead adopt a constructive approach aimed at improving bilateral ties through peace and cooperation.
The head of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Ibrahim Kalın, met Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa in Damascus on Monday as Türkiye and Syria continue efforts to strengthen coordination on regional developments and bilateral cooperation.
The meeting, held at the People’s Palace in the Syrian capital, was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and General Intelligence Director Hussein al-Salamah, according to Syrian officials.
Discussions focused on recent regional developments and ways to deepen cooperation and coordination between Ankara and Damascus amid ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring countries.
Kalın, a key figure in Türkiye-Syria relations, became the first senior Turkish official to visit Damascus under the new administration. On Dec. 12, the Turkish spymaster prayed at the historic Umayyad Mosque amid heavy security measures.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a phone call Tuesday that escalating regional tensions have once again demonstrated the strategic importance of relations between Türkiye and the European Union.
The call covered Türkiye-European Union relations alongside regional and global developments, the Turkish Communications Directorate said on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
During the call, Erdoğan said Türkiye has been working to maintain a cease-fire and ensure peace in the ongoing conflict in the region, adding that the Strait of Hormuz should also be reopened as soon as possible.
He added that Israel seeks the continuation of conflicts in the region and continues to violate international law, including acts described as piracy, stressing the need to boost international pressure on Israel.
Erdoğan also underlined that Türkiye’s inclusion in Europe’s security strategy initiatives would be beneficial, that the Turkish-EU Customs Union needs to be updated, and that cooperation should be expanded across all fields in order to strengthen economic integration and advance shared interests.
Burhanettin Duran, head of communications for the Turkish Presidency, said Tuesday that access to 1,352 additional social media accounts linked to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) had been blocked, bringing the total number of restricted accounts to 1,731.
In a statement posted on the social media platform NSosyal, Duran said Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications continued to carry out “comprehensive digital monitoring and analysis” efforts aimed at countering online propaganda and disinformation activities linked to terrorist groups.
Duran recalled that authorities had previously identified and restricted access to 379 accounts affiliated with FETÖ. Following further technical analysis and digital network investigations, authorities determined that 1,352 more accounts were connected to the group, he noted.
He also said legal action and access restrictions had been imposed on 361 additional social media accounts accused of “praising terrorism, encouraging extremist propaganda and conducting psychological operations against Türkiye.”
According to Duran, the measures were implemented in coordination with the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry and other state institutions.
“The analyses clearly revealed that these digital structures systematically produced disinformation, carried out coordinated propaganda activities and acted in an organized manner to manipulate public opinion,” Duran said.
Duran stressed that Türkiye is continuing its fight against terrorism not only in the physical sphere but also across digital platforms under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“No terrorist organization, its affiliates or any digital operation targeting our national security will be tolerated,” he said, adding that Turkish institutions remained on alert against online threats.
Türkiye seeks to expand cooperation with Japan in defense, technology, trade and reconstruction projects in third countries as regional instability and shifting global dynamics push the two nations toward closer strategic coordination, a senior Turkish lawmaker said Tuesday.
Fuat Oktay, chairperson of the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and a lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), spoke during an official visit to Japan by a parliamentary delegation including AK Party, Republican People’s Party (CHP), and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) members.
The delegation traveled to Japan at the invitation of Konosuke Kokuba, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Japan’s House of Representatives.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Oktay said the visit aimed to strengthen relations between Türkiye and Japan, not only at the governmental level but also through parliamentary diplomacy as both countries confront increasingly complex regional and global developments.
“Recent developments are progressing extremely rapidly both in our own region, in the region where Japan is located, and globally,” Oktay said.
The Turkish delegation includes AK Party lawmakers Oğuz Üçüncü and Ziya Altunyaldız, CHP lawmaker Talih Özcan and MHP lawmaker Kamil Aydın.
Historical roots
Oktay noted the two countries’ longstanding friendship should be reflected more strongly in investment, trade, defense cooperation, technology, tourism and joint projects in third countries.
He pointed to the 19th-century sinking of the Ottoman frigate Ertuğrul off the coast of Japan as a symbol of the historic ties between the two nations.
“This friendship has continued to develop until today,” Oktay said, noting recent visits by members of the Japanese Imperial Family to Türkiye as further signs of close relations.
Economic ties
Türkiye is also seeking to increase Japanese investment and rebalance bilateral trade, which Oktay said currently stands at between $6.5 billion and $7 billion annually.
“We believe the level of $10 billion and $15 billion should now be surpassed,” he said.
Oktay said Japanese investment in Türkiye remains relatively limited despite decades of economic cooperation. According to Oktay, Japan has invested approximately $3.1 billion in Türkiye over the past 20 years, accounting for roughly 1.5% of Türkiye’s total foreign investment inflows.
He cited Toyota as one of the strongest examples of successful Japanese investment in Türkiye, describing the automaker’s Turkish factory as one of the company’s most efficient production facilities worldwide.
Türkiye currently hosts 278 Japanese companies, Oktay said, adding that Ankara wants the number to grow significantly.
The Turkish official said parliamentary diplomacy could help remove legal and bureaucratic obstacles facing businesses and accelerate approval processes for bilateral agreements.
Beyond bilateral economic ties, Oktay emphasized the potential for cooperation in reconstruction and infrastructure projects in countries such as Syria and Ukraine.
“We see that stability is beginning to emerge in Syria and that the reconstruction process is coming onto the agenda,” he remarked.
Oktay said Türkiye’s strength in construction and contracting services could complement Japan’s financial capabilities in rebuilding efforts abroad, adding that discussions were also underway regarding potential joint projects in Africa.
One of the most significant new areas of cooperation between the two countries, Oktay said, is defense industry collaboration.
Japan’s defense policies remained relatively constrained for decades after World War II, but Turkish officials now see growing Japanese interest in defense partnerships as regional security concerns intensify.
“Türkiye’s recent achievements in the defense industry are drawing attention from all over the world,” Oktay said, referencing growing military contacts between the two countries, including recent visits by Japanese defense officials and military representatives.
He said Türkiye hopes the increased dialogue will quickly evolve into concrete joint projects.
Oktay also highlighted motor technologies and advanced manufacturing as strategic sectors for future cooperation.
“Japan has very strong expertise in this field,” he noted, referring to engine technologies. “Its design and manufacturing capabilities, especially stemming from the automotive industry, can contribute to many sectors, including aviation.”
Turkish and Japanese defense and technology companies are examining possible cooperation in aviation, automotive production, advanced manufacturing and engine systems, he added.
Tourism was another major topic discussed during the visit.
According to Oktay, around 160,000 Japanese tourists visited Türkiye in 2025, with destinations such as Cappadocia, Şanlıurfa and Göbeklitepe attracting strong interest due to their historical and cultural significance.
Türkiye hopes to increase the number of Japanese visitors to between 300,000 and 400,000 in the coming years, Oktay said.
“Tourism is not only about revenue,” he said. “It is also a very important tool for strengthening cultural ties between the two peoples.”
The visit also includes discussions on regional security issues, including Iran, Iraq and broader geopolitical tensions across Asia and the Middle East.
Oktay said Turkish and Japanese officials would exchange views on reducing tensions, strengthening regional stability and supporting peace efforts amid ongoing global conflicts.
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