UPDATE - Turkish foreign minister warns of potential escalation in region

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By Faruk Zorlu, Busranur Koca and Sumeyye Dilara Dincer

Türkiye's foreign minister warned Sunday of a potential regional escalation amid ongoing US airstrikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria.

"When you play with fire, that fire can turn into a blaze at any moment, becoming uncontrollable. We are facing a risk here, and the issue of uncontrollability stands before us as a threat,” Hakan Fidan said in an interview with a national television channel.

Noting that Türkiye is in constant talks with the US and regional partners, Fidan said: "We need to avoid the spread (of confrontation) in the region. The situation is not good. We may face a bigger spread," he said.

Underlining that the issue of Israel's security is constantly brought up in the world's public opinion, Fidan said that Israel prioritizes territorial expansion over security.

He said Israel will feel secure after it stops "telling lies" to the international community and gives Palestinians their own state.

Reminding that regional countries have repeatedly stated that they are ready to take responsibility, Fidan said: "When we brought up the two-state solution (for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) this time, the underlying factor was our proposal for a guarantor mechanism, making it distinct methodologically."

- F-16 deal and NATO expansion

Addressing questions about F-16 fighter jets in discussions with the US, he highlighted the inclusion of Sweden and Finland in NATO, emphasizing Türkiye's support during the process.

In late January, the US State Department approved the pending $23 billion sale of F-16 aircraft and modernization kits to Türkiye, sending formal notification to Congress.

Fidan noted strategic security concerns between Türkiye, NATO and some member states, saying that counterterrorism efforts were prioritized in negotiations.

He recalled that Türkiye's concerns over terrorism were first raised at the 2022 summit in Madrid involving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and leaders of Sweden and Finland.

Fidan underlined commitments against terrorist organizations like the PKK, YPG and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), with assurances that NATO entrants would not support these groups.

Mentioning Finland's NATO membership in April 2023, he referred to a trilateral summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius where discussions included lifting sanctions on Türkiye by NATO countries and supporting Ankara's European Union membership.

Fidan mentioned the pending approval of Sweden-related legislation by the Turkish Parliament and subsequent notification to the US Congress, expressing confidence that the ongoing process would conclude upon the approval by President Joe Biden and deposition of the agreement with the host country.

The approval came after Türkiye submitted documents related to Sweden’s NATO membership protocol after it was ratified in late January by the Turkish Parliament.

- F-35 project and defense capabilities

Discussing the ongoing situation with the US F-35 fighter jet program and its impact on Türkiye's defense capabilities, Fidan said: "The F-35 problem arose as a reflection of Türkiye's removal from the program, its pursuit of developing its own defense capabilities and its political policy."

He emphasized Ankara's role beyond just a customer, saying: "We were not only participating as a customer in the F-35 program but also as a production partner. This situation has resulted in significant losses for Türkiye, both financially and in terms of our capacity."

Fidan confirmed ongoing efforts to address these losses, saying: "Our relevant authorities are working diligently, particularly on recovering the financial damages incurred."

Regarding the potential impact on the power balance in the Aegean Sea, Fidan acknowledged that Greece, being a NATO member, is included in the list of countries slated to receive F-35s after production is complete.

"Greece is expected to receive the F-35s sometime after 2030. We will closely monitor the situation and how the balance of power evolves in the meantime," he said.

Fidan further addressed the ongoing challenges in acquiring defense systems from Western countries, saying: "This situation has pushed Türkiye to explore alternative options. As part of our national foreign policy, we are obligated to secure our country by procuring all necessary systems and military equipment. Where we obtain these is, of course, at our own discretion."

"Following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's directive, we have begun implementing the layered air defense doctrine, which utilizes the domestically produced Hisar class low, medium and high-altitude air defense systems developed by Roketsan," he said.

Commenting on the possibility of returning to the F-35 project, Fidan said: "This is a capability. If acquiring this capability is an addition without losing our other capabilities, why not?"

"However, if obtaining this capability comes with conditions such as giving up on other capabilities, adapting ourselves to different policies or any uncompromising conditions, then naturally, we will continue to explore other alternatives."

- Grain Corridor

"The grain corridor is always on Ankara's agenda," Fidan said in response to questions about the upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Türkiye this month.

He emphasized that President Putin's visit was pre-planned, and during the visit, they will have the opportunity to discuss various issues.

Fidan highlighted Türkiye's close relationship with Russia in various fields, including energy, and expressed the expectation that Russia would not turn a blind eye to the YPG and PKK terrorist organizations in Syria.

"There is a de-confliction mechanism between our armed forces and the Russian armed forces in Syria. However, this mechanism may not always work properly in the way we want it to, especially when we are planning to conduct an operation in Syria," he said.

Fidan emphasized that Türkiye's top priority is the swift removal of the PKK's threat from both the east and west of the Euphrates, acknowledging that Russia has its own expectations in the region, necessitating negotiation.

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine issue, Fidan said the Grain Corridor is always on Ankara's agenda, and it will be discussed during President Putin's visit.

He stressed the importance that President Erdogan places on this matter, expressing concern about the potential impact on global populations, especially in the Southern Hemisphere and Africa, if wheat prices rise, limiting access to food.

- Gaza faces famine, disease

Fidan highlighted the significant importance of the International Court of Justice's provisional measures decision in the genocide case against Israel.

Expressing deep concern over the casualties and destruction caused by Israel’s bombings, he emphasized that over two million people in Gaza face hunger and diseases.

Fidan condemned the situation in which people are being held hostage, infrastructure is being destroyed and access to essential resources is being denied. He underscored the urgent need to focus on halting the massacre and advocated for a shift to a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The key question is whether Israel can unequivocally say it is content with the 1967 borders and has no territorial ambitions beyond them, he said.

- Türkiye-Egypt ties

On the process of normalizing relations between Türkiye and Egypt, Fidan said it has largely been completed. He noted the mutual benefits for both countries, highlighting the historical ties between the Turkish and Egyptian people.

He stressed the exceptional importance of bilateral relations for regional security and trade.

Fidan also acknowledged the presence of numerous Turkish investors in Egypt and expressed the desire to enhance these investments. He mentioned the positive impact of normalized relations on regional policies, especially in Libya.

He underlined the importance of collaboration on various fronts, including technological cooperation in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Pointing out the importance of Egypt in terms of regional security, especially in terms of the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Fidan said: "It is important to normalize relations so that Egypt receives certain support and certain technologies."

"We also have an agreement that Türkiye will provide unmanned aerial vehicles and other technologies. Our cooperation in Africa is also important, especially in Libya. As we normalized relations with Egypt, it had serious positive repercussions, especially on policies in Libya," he said.

- Balkan relations

Emphasizing the importance of continuous dialogue, Fidan discussed Türkiye's support for the Balkans. He said recent visits to Albania, Bulgaria and Romania reflect systematic efforts in Türkiye-Albania relations.

He pointed to the exceptional level of relations with Bulgaria and highlighted positive developments, especially the democratic stance of the Bulgarian government.

Addressing Türkiye-Greece relations, Fidan acknowledged historical issues in the Aegean, emphasizing responsible management and positive diplomatic efforts.

He outlined various areas of collaboration, including economic, tourism, education and cultural activities. Fidan also emphasized efforts to discuss chronic issues with a fresh perspective, focusing on military tension reduction and mutual agreements.

He said the Cyprus issue remains a significant diplomatic focus, with an expanded approach to problem-solving.

- Türkiye's EU journey

Addressing Türkiye's EU membership process, Fidan acknowledged the lengthy history of this journey, emphasizing the lessons learned from both the past and the present.

He discussed the ongoing efforts to explore new approaches, parameters, discourses and policies regarding Ankara's EU path.

He underscored the crucial decision for the EU, questioning whether the EU is genuinely willing to make Türkiye a member.

Fidan also warned that Türkiye may take further steps due to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) collaboration with the PKK in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the PUK's failure to distance itself from the PKK, he said Türkiye imposed restrictions, particularly in air transportation to Sulaymaniyah. He reiterated the call for the PUK to correct its course, cautioning that Türkiye may escalate actions if they persist.

Regarding Türkiye-Syria relations, Fidan criticized Syria's attempt to make diplomatic moves with preconditions. Türkiye advocates for Syria's territorial integrity within the Astana process. Fidan highlighted Ankara's commitment to dialogue while noting Syria's challenges in engaging due to external influences.