Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense
Erdogan said that the Mecca Agreement for joint defense between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan should not be assessed as an alliance established against Iran, Israel or any third country, stressing that it is “an expression of the shared responsibility we undertake to build a more secure, peaceful and prosperous future.” He explained that Turkey has long said that the region’s issues should be handled by its own countries, adding: “We want to strengthen our security, increase our deterrence capabilities and strengthen lasting stability in our region.”
He added: "The agreement is based on Article 51 of the United Nations Charter concerning the right of legitimate self-defense," noting that it stipulates that any armed attack targeting one of the three countries is considered an attack against all parties.
He continued: "The nature of the response can be determined based on the request and needs of the country that was attacked. This need may be intelligence, logistical, or ammunition support, and it may also be greater military support depending on the size of the threat."
He explained that the relevant political and military mechanisms determine how this will be implemented through means of solidarity, stressing that "it is not right to write an automatic military scenario now for every incident that may occur in Iraq, Yemen or anywhere else."
On August 7, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the "Mecca Joint Defense Agreement" in the holy city of Mecca.
The agreement aims to promote security, peace, stability and prosperity regionally and internationally, and to increase the capacity for joint deterrence in the face of increasing instability.
UN reform
Regarding the Turkish President's vision towards conflicts in the world and the region, Erdogan said that the world is going through a period of serious ruptures, adding: "Conflicts directly affect the security, economy and stability of our region. In such periods, expanding the space for diplomacy instead of narrowing it is a shared responsibility that falls on the shoulders of the international community."
He explained: “Our priority in the General Assembly (of the United Nations) is to prevent conflicts from spreading to wider geographical areas, to keep diplomatic channels open, and to contribute to bringing the parties back to the negotiating table.” He stressed that Turkey is a country capable of communicating with all parties to conflicts, “from the Russian-Ukrainian war to the tensions in the Middle East, and capable of taking initiatives for peace.”
Erdogan stressed that reforming the United Nations can no longer be postponed, and said that the center of gravity of the world is changing, adding: “As new centers of power emerge, more countries are demanding that they have the place they deserve in global decision-making processes. The United Nations must not lag behind these transformations.”He stated: “We believe that the Security Council must become more representative, effective, and accountable. Reform can no longer be postponed in order to achieve an international system in which the will of the General Assembly is more strongly reflected in decision-making processes, and in which responsibility is distributed more fairly.”
US-Iranian tensions
In response to a question about a war between Iran and the United States, Erdogan stressed the need to avoid steps that would escalate tensions and to work to bring the parties together around the negotiating table, noting that a permanent solution can only be achieved in this way.
He said: “The United States is our ally in NATO, and Iran is our neighbor. During my recent meeting with Mr. (Donald) Trump, I stressed the need to make the most of diplomacy in the current tension between Iran and the United States.”
Erdogan stressed that “one of Turkey’s important capabilities is its ability to talk to the parties to the conflicts… and we are using this capability to reduce tension. The success of these contacts is important for the security of our region, as well as for the global economy.” He added that the tension in the Strait of Hormuz directly affects energy supplies and global trade, and “our priority is to prevent the conflict from escalating, to maintain the security of trade routes, and to bring the parties back to the negotiating table.”
Relations with Washington
In response to a question about Turkish-American relations, Erdogan said that he enjoys a relationship with US President Donald Trump that allows him to speak with him directly and frankly, adding: "I believe this represents an important opportunity for Turkish-American relations, as well as for developments in our region." He explained that his last meeting with Trump directly addressed a wide range of issues, from the Iranian issue and regional security to Gaza and bilateral relations.
Erdogan continued, saying: "Turkey and the United States have a long-standing and multi-dimensional alliance relationship that spans many years. We have extensive experience of cooperation, particularly in the areas of defense industries, trade, and regional security, as well as great potential for further development."Regarding the impact of US-Israeli relations and the escalating rhetoric of some Israeli officials against Turkey, the Turkish President explained: “I do not define Turkish-American relations through a third country. Our interlocutor in Washington is the US administration, and when there is an issue that we need to discuss with Mr. Trump, we talk to him directly.”
Syria's security and counter-terrorism
The Turkish president explained that Ankara’s position towards Syria is clear, stressing the need to preserve Syria’s unity, and said: “We want to preserve Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity. Rebuilding the state, strengthening its institutions and increasing its ability to combat terrorism is in the interest of our entire region.”
He continued: “We assess Israel’s attacks on Syria in this context. It is clear that Israel’s attacks, which disregard international law and established norms, clearly harm Syria’s sovereignty and hinder the establishment of stability in the region. While the stability of Syria will contribute to achieving peace and development in our entire region, including Israel.”
In response to a question about the positive developments in the region, including the disbanding of the PKK terrorist organization and its laying down of arms, Erdogan said that the path of a "Turkey without terrorism" represents a strategic goal for the country that goes beyond being merely a matter of timetable.
He stressed that Turkey wants to permanently remove the issue of terrorism, which has claimed lives for decades, drained resources, and hindered the development of Turkey and the region, from the agenda, emphasizing the need to dismantle the terrorist organization’s illegal structure, complete the surrender of its weapons, and have this process verified and confirmed by the relevant institutions.Erdogan stressed that Turkey is following developments in Syria in this context, “It is necessary for all armed elements there to be integrated into the central state structure, in order to strengthen Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and social unity. We support the progress of this process on the basis of equal citizenship, and the establishment of a system in which all the people of Syria, including the Kurds, feel more secure, free and prosperous,” stressing that “the more Syria’s unity is strengthened, the more the security of our region is strengthened.”
Russian-Ukrainian War
Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war and Turkey’s role in mediating for peace, Erdogan stressed that they are not ignoring the danger of the war spreading to wider geographical areas, and said that “our priority as Turkey is to prevent the war from turning into a conflict that attracts new countries to it.”
Erdogan stressed that Turkey’s position on the Russian-Ukrainian war has not changed in more than four years, saying: “The Istanbul talks, the Black Sea grain initiative, and the prisoner exchange operations are tangible results made possible by our ability to talk to both sides.”He added: “Turkey is a strong ally in NATO, and at the same time, we can establish direct contact with Mr. Putin and the Ukrainian administration. I see no contradiction in that. In order to mediate, you must be able to talk to both sides of the conflict. In my last meeting with Mr. Putin in Bishkek, I clearly emphasized Turkey’s readiness to do its part to achieve peace.”
In addition, Erdogan said that Turkey’s exceptional location between East and West “makes it natural for us to pursue a multi-dimensional and multi-directional foreign policy,” adding: “We take into account our national interests, regional stability and world peace, maintain our established alliances, and at the same time establish new partnerships, and when necessary bring together different centers of power around the same table.”
He added: “Türkiye’s direction is clear: to continue this approach firmly, as a strong country that acts according to its own will, promotes stability in its region, and assumes a role and responsibility in global issues.”
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