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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday praised U.S. President Donald Trump's leadership on a new Gaza peace proposal, offering Ankara's continued support for the diplomatic effort as Trump publicly characterized the Turkish leader as "a friend" during a White House appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Erdogan's comments, posted on social media, marked a notable moment of alignment between the two leaders on Middle East policy, coming as Trump unveiled a 20-point plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
"I appreciate President Trump's efforts and leadership in stopping the bloodshed in Gaza and achieving a ceasefire," Erdogan wrote on Monday. "As Türkiye, we will continue to contribute to the process for the establishment of a fair and lasting peace that the parties will accept."
During his White House remarks on the Gaza proposal, Trump referenced Erdogan while discussing the complexity of achieving Middle East peace. The U.S. president called Erdogan "a friend, a strong man but a good man," acknowledging the Turkish leader's role in regional dynamics.
The characterization comes amid Trump's approach to personal diplomacy with foreign leaders, particularly those wielding significant influence in volatile regions. Türkiyeshares borders with both Syria and Iraq and has maintained complicated relationships with various parties in Middle East conflicts.
Trump's 20-point plan calls for an immediate cease-fire, hostage releases, Hamas disarmament and a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The proposal envisions a transitional authority that would govern Gaza, with international peacekeepers deployed to maintain security.
However, significant questions remained about implementation, particularly given Netanyahu's insistence that Israel would retain security responsibility "for the foreseeable future" and his rejection of any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza's governance without what he termed "radical" change.
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