Turkish foreign policy centered on Türkiye but has global perspective, says President Erdogan

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish foreign policy is centered on Türkiye but takes a global perspective, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

"We have shaped our foreign policy with a Türkiye-centered but a global perspective, and there is no turning back," Erdogan said in a speech in the capital Ankara, announcing record new export figures for last year.

Türkiye paid no heed to the warmongers who tried to get the country entangled in the bloody conflicts to both the north and south, he stressed.

"Despite interventions from third parties suggesting otherwise, we have worked to strengthen our relations with our neighbors, on the basis of a win-win approach," he added.

"We have resolved the differences of opinion that emerged between us and some countries in the region and brought our cooperation back to the levels where it should be," he said, likely referring to better ties with countries such as Greece and Egypt.

"While reaching historic heights in our relations with the Turkic world, we have also worked to develop cooperation with Europe and the US based on mutual respect."

​​​​​​​Türkiye's relations with African and Latin American countries have already made progress by taking on new dimensions, he added.

"We have never turned away any hand of friendship extended to our country," he said.

Türkiye will continue to win over new friends, the Turkish president added.

Erdogan also conveyed his condolences to Japan, which was shaken by earthquakes on Monday with magnitudes as large as 7.6, triggering a tsunami warning and high waves, and taking 48 lives.​​​​​​​