Newsletters
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened the TRT World Forum 2025 in Istanbul on Friday, calling for innovative global solutions amid ongoing international crises and condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Speaking at the Hilton Bomonti Hotel, Erdogan said the two-day forum will bring together 132 speakers from 35 countries and over 2,000 participants to discuss global challenges under the theme “Global Reset: From Old Order to New Realities.”
“Given the painful period our world and region are going through, such a fruitful exchange of ideas becomes even more significant,” Erdogan said.
Erdogan praised the Turkish public broadcaster TRT for organizing the forum since 2017, calling it a “valuable platform” for discussing issues that concern humanity.
He said nearly 1,000 speakers and 10,000 participants have taken part in previous forums, sharing ideas on politics, economics, security, media, and international relations.
The president highlighted TRT’s human-centered approach and global presence, emphasizing its mission to spread truth worldwide.
Turning to the Gaza conflict, Erdogan condemned Western nations for what he described as efforts to portray Israel as “innocent” despite its bombardment of civilian areas.
“In Gaza, there is hardly a single building left intact. Schools, churches, mosques, hospitals have all been bombed,” he said. “They say, ‘Israel is innocent.’ How is that possible? Israel is using hunger as a deadly weapon, especially against children. Israel is not innocent—it is the oppressor itself.”
He said Israel had killed 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including more than 20,000 children, and that international institutions had failed to prevent the massacre.
Erdogan reiterated that Türkiye will continue to support Palestinians and push for a two-state solution. “Türkiye is ready to put not only its hand but its whole body under the stone for Gaza’s reconstruction,” he said.
Erdogan also repeated his long-standing criticism of the U.N. Security Council’s structure, saying its “unjust decision-making system” prevents solutions to global crises.
“The fate of humanity cannot be left to the mercy of five countries. That is why we say the world is bigger than five,” he said.
He called for a more just and inclusive global order, criticizing the silence of international institutions in the face of wars and humanitarian crises.
Erdogan strongly condemned atrocities against civilians in Sudan’s el-Fashir and urged an immediate end to violence there.
He also reiterated Türkiye's readiness to help mediate a lasting peace in the Russia-Ukraine war.
"Middle ground will soon be found" in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, "paving way for both neighboring peoples to live side by side in peace again," President Erdogan said.
Erdogan commended TRT’s global reach, noting that it now operates 17 television channels, 17 radio stations, and produces content in 41 languages.
He said Turkish TV series produced by TRT are broadcast in more than 110 countries and 50 languages, helping to promote Turkish culture and values.
He warned that the “institution of family is under serious attack,” saying digital platforms and social media encourage “distorted relationships and immoral behavior.”
“We must give greater importance to productions that highlight human values, unity, and genuine bonds,” he said, praising TRT for promoting “clean and family-oriented content” across platforms.
Erdogan concluded his address by wishing success to forum participants and expressing hope that the discussions “will contribute to humanity’s search for peace and justice.”
2 min read
