‘Establishing new equations in foreign policy’ is a 'necessity' for Türkiye: President Erdogan

By Esra Tekin and Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that “establishing new equations in foreign policy” is not a choice, but a "necessity" for Türkiye.

“In a period when our region is constantly on edge, establishing new equations in foreign policy is not just a choice but a necessity for Türkiye,” Erdogan said in his address after the Cabinet meeting.

He further said Türkiye is a country that “cannot be squeezed into a single bloc, with its geographical, human, economic, historical ties.”

Erdogan said they cannot allow anyone to confine Türkiye within “their narrow molds,” adding: “We neither turn our back on the East for the West nor neglect the West for the East.”

On Israel’s ongoing relentless attacks on Gaza and Palestinian lands, Erdogan said Ankara’s stance will not change toward Tel Aviv, “as long as Israel's massacre, occupation, genocide policy in Gaza and other Palestinian territories continues.”

The Turkish leader also said: "Although the oppressors who feed on blood, tears, and occupation are uncomfortable, we stand and will stand firmly by Palestine."

Drawing attention to the recent NATO summit that was held in Washington, DC, last week, Erdogan criticizingly said: “Weapons given to our country by our allies with hesitation are coming out of the hideouts of the separatist terrorist organization.”

Stating that the meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were “fruitful” during the Shanghai Cooperation Summit held in the Kazakh capital Astana, Erdogan said Türkiye's “door is wide open” to any investment that will provide added value to the country's economy, adding: “As long as we act with a win-win approach.”

On a possible meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Erdogan said: "We believe in the benefit of loosening clenched fists. We sincerely hope for the resolution of conflicts through negotiation at the negotiation table and mutual dialogue."