Erdogan urges de-escalation in region, blames Israeli attacks for instability

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the need to avoid actions that could escalate tensions in the region and called for bringing all parties to the negotiating table, particularly regarding the Iranian issue. He stressed that Israel is undermining stability with its attacks that disregard international law.

Speaking to the US magazine Newsweek, Erdogan addressed several topics, notably the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. He said the agreement should not be seen as an alliance against Iran, Israel, or any third country, but rather as "an expression of our shared responsibility to build a safer, more peaceful, and prosperous future." He explained that Turkey has long maintained that regional issues should be handled by the countries of the region, adding: "We want to enhance our security, increase our deterrence, and strengthen lasting stability in our region."

Erdogan continued: "The agreement is based on Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which concerns the right to self-defense." He noted that any armed attack against one of the three countries would be considered an attack against all parties. He added that "the nature of the response can be determined based on the request and needs of the country under attack, which may include intelligence or logistical support, ammunition, or, depending on the scale of the threat, greater military assistance."

He affirmed that "we believe the Security Council must become more representative, effective, and accountable. Reform can no longer be postponed if we are to create an international system where the will of the General Assembly is more strongly reflected in decision-making and responsibility is distributed more fairly."

In response to a question about the conflict between Iran and the United States, Erdogan stressed the importance of avoiding steps that could escalate tensions and of bringing the parties to the negotiating table, noting that a lasting solution can only be achieved in this way.

The Turkish president said, "The United States is our ally in NATO, and Iran is our neighbor. In my recent meeting with the US president, I emphasized the need to make maximum use of diplomacy in the ongoing tension between Iran and the United States."

Erdogan highlighted that one of Turkey's key strengths is its ability to communicate with all parties in conflicts, and that Turkey uses this capacity to reduce tensions. The success of these efforts, he said, is important for regional security and the global economy. He added that tensions in the Strait of Hormuz directly affect energy supplies and global trade, and that Turkey's priority is "to prevent the conflict from expanding, safeguard the security of trade routes, and bring the parties back to the negotiating table."