Erdoğan speaks before US trip: We are the backbone of NATO

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference at Esenboğa Airport before his visit to the United States to attend the NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Washington.

Stating that they will hold consultations at the summit to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defense structure and to bolster the capabilities of the allies, Erdoğan said, "Our summit carries a special meaning as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of NATO's founding. We will follow up on the decisions we made in Vilnius last year. On this occasion, we will come together at the leaders' level with NATO partners in the Asia-Pacific region—Australia, South Korea, Japan, and New Zealand—in a session with the participation of European Union representatives."

Stating that they will hold the final session of the summit in the NATO-Ukraine Council format, Erdoğan continued as follows:

"Our expectation from the summit is to achieve results that observe the national security sensitivities of the allies and strengthen alliance solidarity and the spirit of unity. The implementation of the decisions we took in Vilnius regarding the fight against terrorism and the removal of obstacles to defense industry trade among allies is important in this respect. In our meetings, we will draw attention to the growing terrorist threat in the world, especially in our immediate vicinity. We will also underline that NATO's efforts must be increased in terms of conducting a determined and holistic fight against terrorist organizations.

Turkey's commitment and support to Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence are known to everyone. While designing the steps to be taken to support Ukraine, we also maintain our principled stance that NATO should not be made a party to the war. We have stated from the very first day that there will be no winners in a just peace. For this cause, we have put our hands under the stone from the beginning, starting with the Istanbul process, to first ensure a ceasefire and then pave the way for a lasting peace. Every day that weapons speak, blood is shed, and lives are lost shows how accurate our position is."

Expressing that the consultations they will hold in Washington will also make significant contributions to determining NATO's new vision for its southern region, Erdoğan said, "The cyber world, the fight against disinformation, and the challenges brought by emerging technologies will also be on our agenda."

Stating that the Washington Summit will once again record the fact that the central role in the security of the Euro-Atlantic region belongs to NATO, Erdoğan noted the following:

"Turkey is one of the top five allies that contributes the most to NATO's missions and operations. We are doing more than our part in terms of burden-sharing. With the capabilities we have developed on land, at sea, and in the air, we are among the leading countries that form the backbone of NATO. The importance we attach to the alliance in this period when threats are diversifying and increasing is clear. We will bring to the agenda the ongoing massacres against the Palestinian people in Gaza, where our common values are being tested for sincerity. We will emphasize that the international community is insufficient in stopping Israel in the face of this grave picture and that it is not possible for the global conscience to breathe a sigh of relief without establishing a just and lasting peace in Palestine. While bringing all these issues to the agenda at the highest level, I will also address our related assessments in the bilateral meetings I will hold with allied heads of state and government."

STATEMENT ON THE TRNC

Regarding a question about the TRNC's participation in the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States held in Shusha on July 6, Erdoğan said:

"The TRNC is already a full member of the Organization of Turkic States in our view. In this regard, their approach, especially that of Azerbaijan, has come to almost the same position as ours. As you know, the TRNC was present at the last Shusha Summit. Our friends Cevdet Bey and Hakan Bey were also at the summit. In the coming process, we are striving to bring the TRNC to the point of full membership here. We are developing this with the Turkic states with which we have the most advanced legal relations. We are also developing the relations of TRNC President Ersin Bey with the heads of those states as much as possible."

"WE ARE ONE OF THE TOP FIVE NATO COUNTRIES"

Erdoğan answered the question, "What are Turkey's expectations from the NATO Leaders' Summit? How do you see the future of relations with NATO under the administration of Mark Rutte, who was elected NATO Secretary General?" as follows:

"We are one of the top five countries in NATO. I say this in terms of financial support and also in terms of adding strength to NATO. This is Turkey's situation here. When I say top five countries, I am not saying it just for the sake of it. This is now an approach shared by all NATO member countries. Their view of Turkey is also like this. From now on, we are continuing and will continue to strengthen this position of ours in NATO. What is our expectation from here? Whatever we discussed and talked about in Vilnius, of course, my Minister of Foreign Affairs and my Minister of National Defense are confirming the same situations in the coming process through the meetings they hold."

Pointing out that Turkey's role in the election of Rutte as NATO Secretary General was at a high level, Erdoğan said, "Of course, we will have separate meetings with Rutte in America. He told me that he would visit Turkey before taking office. By holding our meetings, I believe that we will carry out our steps with Rutte in the same way we conducted the process in a very sincere atmosphere with Stoltenberg."

Regarding the question, "Do you think Turkey receives sufficient support from its alliance partners in its fight against terrorism? Can you list your concrete expectations from the allies?", Erdoğan made the following assessments:

"Of course, are we in the position we want with NATO on this point? I am speaking openly and sincerely, we are currently striving to overcome these. We have not yet been able to get what we want and expect, especially from NATO on the Israel-Palestine issue. My hope is that we will bring these to the agenda again in our meetings in the US and get the result we expect. My Minister of Foreign Affairs and my Minister of National Defense have meetings. With all these meetings, we will warn them on this point."

CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

When asked about the latest situation regarding efforts to ensure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Erdoğan recalled that there were very serious negotiations in Doha for a ceasefire.

Emphasizing that the head of Mossad went to Doha and that some positive steps were taken in the meetings in Doha, Erdoğan said, "Those steps have not been concluded yet from that day to this. We are, of course, following the process with patience. Both our Head of Intelligence and our Minister of Foreign Affairs are following the process. Hopefully, we will get the result we expect from here in a short time."