MHP's Özdemir: The US's priority in the Middle East is Israel

Stating that a year in which the effects of the climate crisis began to manifest concretely has been left behind, Özdemir said, "We have left behind a year in which wars and conflicts between countries have occurred, competition has further intensified as a result of customs tariffs and reciprocal taxation, and the effects of the climate crisis have begun to show themselves in a concrete and destructive manner.

The year 2025, in which countries have prioritized their own interests and benefits in a much sharper manner rather than seeking peace, has already shown that global tension could be carried to a level beyond what was anticipated for 2026 and the subsequent periods. Problems existing across all geographies have grown, wars and conflicts have rapidly entered the onset phase, and peace initiatives have for now been moved to another dimension with performative signing ceremonies. On one hand, circles that declare and profess to be pro-peace have, on the other hand, accelerated their military investments with high momentum.

The polarization existing between EU and NATO member countries and Russia in Europe, the standoff and conflicts between Israel and Islamic countries in the Middle East, and the tensions between China and the US and its allies known as the QUAD in the Far East have revealed where the world's divided camps are in the current situation. While the Caucasus and the African continent are searching for stability, attempts at military intervention in the South American field have begun, and the ASEAN region is entering the century with new attractions. In the midst of all these tensions, the number of countries referred to as the gray zone, or in other words, those caught in the middle, is decreasing, and the alignments within the poles are becoming more distinct.

Moreover, the fact that the parties have begun to test each other's strength and reflexes in the economic, psychological, and security fields is another reality before us. If one pays attention, not only have security policies gained priority in the same period, but investments needed in terms of the defense industry have also increased simultaneously. The world is arming itself with dizzying speed and energy.

The global currency reserve is facing an ambitious challenge for the first time since the Second World War. The fact that most states, especially European countries, have begun to implement mandatory military service, and that unusual calls have begun to arrive, such as almost all states offering survival guides to their citizens to develop emergency policies, are other noteworthy developments," he said.

Özdemir continued his words as follows:

"The reality that history and political science offer us is that such an intense level of armament will inevitably make a destructive climate the norm sooner or later. This is exactly why we, as Turkey, must be prepared for this. While raising our level of deterrence to the highest level, it is essential that we urgently close any defense gaps we have in any field and become self-sufficient without needing anyone.

It is clear that we are entering a period where the saying 'Be ready for war if you want peace,' which has found life in our state philosophy, is much more meaningful. For this reason, on one hand, we must keep Turkey away from a possible crisis and war climate, and on the other hand, we must enable it to attain a quality that is influential, respected, and sought after in the eyes of every segment through our multi-dimensional diplomatic efforts.

Both the intense and valuable efforts of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the high leadership of our President allow us to reach the position we desire in our goal of bringing Turkey to the level we mentioned. As the People's Alliance, we are moving with firm steps toward our goal of becoming one of the global power centers by determining our direction with the Turkish Horizon in a time period full of crises and disorder in our Turkish and Turkey Century goal. The fact that existing multilateral global structures and alliances have begun to remain insufficient in solving ongoing problems brings the necessity of implementing new mechanisms that have been and will be regulated according to new conditions to both us and other states.

We are obliged to enrich and consolidate our approaches with other parties whose interests align with ours and who act in harmony with our policies in order to overcome crises that have become commonplace and deepened, such as in the face of the genocide displayed by Israel in Gaza and the attempts to occupy Jerusalem. Our Chairman's Jerusalem Pact proposal has been shared with the international public as an example of our approach that will both consolidate our country's national security and contribute to regional peace and stability in the matters we mentioned. Our hope is that this alliance will come to life and that security paradigms in the Middle East that can adapt to new conditions will be shaped in favor of us and those who are with us."

Stating that the US's priority in the Middle East is Israel, Özdemir said, "The priority and high-level area concerning our foreign policy is undoubtedly Syria. There is no doubt that the country that has experienced the most serious and destructive effects of the civil war that started in this country is Turkey. From the moment the civil war began, we were left alone by our close allies. We would like to state once again that in the Syrian issue; Turkey was left alone by its close allies, and the issues that pose a threat to our national security were personally implemented, nurtured, defended, supported, and managed by these same so-called allies. While this plain truth stands before us, the general strategies of these same so-called allies have also revealed themselves. Therefore, everyone should be careful and act responsibly with high sensitivity, especially toward the Turkish public. The US's general strategy regarding Syria is based on the division of this country. CENTCOM, the branch of the American army responsible for the region, has exerted high effort for years to adjust field conditions for the same goal, and the US's responsible institutions related to diplomacy and security have also tried to make progress with covert or overt activities for their joint strategies.

Every year, a certain amount and proportion of resources from the US budget have been allocated for the so-called fight against ISIS and used for its strategic ambitions in Syria. The US's priority in the Middle East is Israel. For this reality to change, the US would perhaps need to collapse and be replaced by another state with different principles and a constitution. Other than that, no president, institution, organization, or approach will change its policy that prioritizes Israel for the US. Israel also wants the division of Syria at the highest possible level and constructs its entire strategy on this understanding. The occupation of the Golan Heights, the efforts made to make this occupation permanent, and all initiatives that threaten the integrity of Syria, such as the David Corridor, have exposed Israel's plans.

Zionism is targeting the Promised Land. It has set its sights on the lands of Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, and Turkey on land. At sea and in the field of water resources, the area covering the Red Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Basra, Nile, Euphrates, and Tigris rivers is the target of the same plan. Moreover, Israel, which provokes Greece and arms Southern Cyprus, is trying to carry the tension to the Eastern Mediterranean and expand the anti-Turkey front, creating new scenarios that it cannot dare to do directly. Almost the entire Islamic geography is wanted to be sacrificed to a malignant and baseless dream with all its means, resources, and conditions. In this direction, they are trying to create weak, vulnerable, and even collapsed state structures by separating all people, except those of Jewish origin living in the Middle East, on an ethnic and sectarian basis, preparing them as easily capturable targets for the final end," he expressed.

Stating that what is being done is an effort to make conditions suitable, Özdemir said, "They have also accelerated the same plan. The attacks that started with genocide in Gaza within just a 1-year time frame, and then extended to Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and finally Qatar, have long since made the real purpose obvious. With tactical maneuvers, back-patting, supposedly positive-looking messages, and insidious praise, the path they want to reach is nothing but a deception, a trick, a waste of time, and an effort to make conditions suitable. Look, while people continue to suffer in Gaza; while the effort to distract on one hand and make people forget Israel's inhumane actions that are reacted to all over the world continues on the other, and while the US administration is supposedly taking a decision to withdraw from Syria, now the decision to build a very large military base near Damascus has come to the agenda.

What is grave is that this situation is being tried to be shaped together with the new administration that has taken office in Syria. Even the suspicious events that have taken place in just a few weeks bring to light the reality of why one must be very careful and vigilant. Within 2025, the Baath regime, which had held power in Syria for many years, was destroyed, Assad was overthrown, and a new administration was established in the opposition structure led by the organization called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. It is, of course, our expectation that the new administration established under the leadership of Ahmet Shara will be successful in Syria, adopt an understanding that embraces all segments of society, and act in accordance with the principles of protecting territorial integrity and demographic structure, which is also our country's most important priority, and that terrorist organizations will not have a place in the future of Syria.

The Turkish state owes its power to its unshakable will and strong memory. In addition to this, it has become essential to remind some overseas circles and their collaborators, who think they are writing a story starting from Abu Ghraib and extending to Damascus and that they can make progress with this, that there are always ready-to-act organized lovers and devotees of the Crescent-and-Star flag in time and space, starting from Marj Dabiq to Kut al-Amara. The mentality that declares they will create new conditions between the Caspian and the Mediterranean will not be able to show any will other than the Sea of Galilee. One does not play games with Turkey; no scenario attempted to be staged against Turkey in this region will work. The date of July 15, 2016, is the most distinct, sharp, and final registration of this. Our decision to stop all activities of the PKK terrorist organization with our goal of a Turkey without terrorism has shown that it will also disrupt games in the Syrian field. From this moment on, the supporters of the US and Israel have acted from a single center and exposed themselves, showing what they serve with their opposing positions in the efforts to clear not only Turkey but also our region of terrorism.

Turkey's attainment of a climate without terrorism at home and abroad is what disturbs the circles that want and aim to change the borders of the region the most. While it is known to everyone that Turkey is the greatest power sovereign in the Middle East geography with an understanding that will make peace and stability prevail, the responsibility of taking steps worthy of this power is on the shoulders of all of us. Therefore, our goal of a Turkey without terrorism and a Region without terrorism imposes important responsibilities on all our institutions and organizations operating in the field of Foreign Policy for our Turkish and Turkey Century strategy. On the other hand, in the face of the unacceptable attitudes of other Western countries that take place alongside the US and Israel in the brutality displayed in Gaza, the reality that Turkey is not without alternatives is known. When the threats and dangers directed at our country are taken into account, it is seen that Israel positions itself in the first place, and when looking at the attitudes of the so-called allied countries that take sides with this country, there can be no situation more natural and inevitable than Turkey determining its new global balance-seeking and goal," he said.

Stating that it has become inevitable for Turkey to develop permanent alternatives for all of humanity, Özdemir said, "Since the circles that act with the air of a power center by wearing the guise of Western values are concerned with spreading their bloody and disgraceful calculations to the rest of the world, especially the Turkish-Islamic geography, then it becomes inevitable for Turkey to develop permanent alternatives on behalf of all humanity for the establishment of new alliances, the creation of power centers, and global peace and stability. Getting rid of all internal and external burdens in the new century of the Republic must be our national goal. This is also the fundamental sensitivity of the People's Alliance. The Turkish Nation and the Republic of Turkey have rejected helplessness, excluded lack of solutions, and pushed despair away with the back of their hands in the new century. Our determination to demonstrate our will to rise with national unity in every field will, of course, continue.

Turkey's geopolitical and geostrategic position requires the pursuit of a cautious, prudent, and also multi-dimensional foreign policy. Within the scope of these principles and in the face of both regional and global developments, in our opinion, the construction of the 'TRC' alliance consisting of Turkey, Russia, and China is the most suitable option for Turkey in terms of reason, diplomacy, the spirit of politics, geographical conditions, and the strategic environment of the new century. This situation is an option suitable for our national politics, our state and nation structure, and our vision of the future. Turkey has always handled and implemented global politics with an approach that finds its meaning in the double-headed Seljuk Eagle, not only since its foundation but since it made Anatolia its home. An will that looks to the west and east at the same time, can show its power and strength in both the west and the east, and has reached the ability to determine conditions is the ancient attitude of the Turkish State. Our hope is that in the world conjuncture where conditions are heating up and disorder and uncertainties are intensifying, while evaluating all kinds of risks and opportunities together, we will move forward on the solid foundations coming from the ancient understanding of our state. Thank God, our country, while playing a leading role in overcoming regional and global crises with its strong will, has reached a high potential that is respected by every segment, whose attitude is followed carefully, and whose arbitration is sought when necessary.

Turkey has shown that it is a power whose policies are definitely taken into account in events, not only in regions such as the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Middle East, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and North Africa, but wherever in the world they may be. Especially the Organization of Turkic States continues its development with an increasing importance day by day, in defiance of the multi-structured organizations that are dissolving and deteriorating in the twenty-first century. These situations show that we are moving on a correct and certain path in terms of our global goals, that is, our effort to make Turkey a global power. It is of great importance that such a positive picture seen in the field of politics and diplomacy is also seen in the daily lives of our citizens themselves. For this reason, the number of countries to which citizens of the Republic of Turkey can travel without a visa should be increased.

In addition to our increasing industrial and trade potential on a global scale, the members of our institutions and organizations operating in many regions of the world, our business world representatives, our students, and our other professionals should also be able to travel more comfortably, safely, and securely. It is clear how important this situation is for the development of our trade volume. The number of countries that can currently be traveled to without a visa should be adopted as a strategic plan by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, starting from 2026 and within a concrete goal. Turkey should show that it possesses a respectable passport, and our citizens should be able to see by experiencing how valuable our growing diplomatic network is. In addition to this, the transition to Republic of Turkey citizenship of those of Turkish origin who live under instability and persecution in the regions where they are located for various reasons, but who are citizens of other countries, should also be facilitated. While Turkey acts with the desire to be a global power, in our opinion, our population needs to reach at least 100 million for our national goals to be realized. Therefore, we evaluate that it is of great importance for our Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act with a strategic mind in our population planning and projection and to develop policies in its own area of responsibility. On this occasion, as I conclude my words, I would like to state that as the Nationalist Movement Party, we will vote in favor of the budget of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs at every stage of the parliamentary negotiations. I wish superior success from Almighty Allah to all our personnel serving within our Ministry, and while thanking each of them individually, I emphasize that their efforts and endeavors have great value in the eyes of our noble nation, and I greet you all with my love and respect. I hope the budget will be auspicious," he said.

News Source: İHA