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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday underlined Türkiye’s commitment to ensuring lasting peace and stability in neighboring Syria, stressing that Ankara will not tolerate attempts to create chaos or undermine the country’s territorial integrity.
Speaking to journalists on his return flight from China, the Turkish president said that both Ankara and the Damascus administration reject any efforts to destabilize Syria.
Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye supports Syria’s unity across all communities, including Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Alawites, Sunnis and Christians.
“We want Syria to remain whole, with all its diverse colors together. No one will be allowed to prevent Syria from standing back on its feet. This time, those who invest in chaos—the war profiteers—will lose, and the Syrian people will win,” the president asserted.
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He also directly addressed external interference, warning that those who attempt to sabotage the reconciliation process will face consequences.
“Wherever they live, Kurds are our brothers. No one can divide us; no one can ambush our eternal brotherhood. Just as flesh and bone cannot be separated, neither can our unity. Whoever tries to undermine this process will pay the price,” he stated.
Erdogan concluded that Türkiye’s approach is guided by foresight and goodwill, noting that every problem can be resolved if approached with sincerity; otherwise, the simplest issues can become deadlocks.
“We want to strengthen peace and tranquility, and we will continue to work for this,” he maintained.
Asked about comments from Israel following his recent statement that “those who turn toward Ankara and Damascus will succeed, while those seeking new patrons will fail,” Erdogan stressed that neither Türkiye nor the Damascus administration will allow attempts to destabilize Syria.
Erdogan added that Türkiye will continue to stand by Syria against those seeking to fuel chaos, underlining that with foresight, prudence and sincerity, all issues can be resolved.
Erdogan also commented on the ongoing terror-free Türkiye process following the terrorist organization PKK’s decision to dissolve and disarm.
He highlighted the work of the newly established National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission in the Turkish Parliament, noting that its efforts have already reached an important stage.
“I believe Türkiye will finally resolve a problem that has lasted for 40 years and will move forward united into the future. In matters concerning our nation’s future, the focus should not be on rumors or speculation but on the official steps taken with state seriousness,” Erdogan said.
He underlined that Türkiye’s roadmap and objectives are clear: resources once allocated to counter-terrorism will now be invested in development, production, employment and prosperity.
“The winner of a terror-free Türkiye will be the entire nation, and the winner of a terror-free region will be all the brotherly peoples of our geography,” he concluded.
President Erdogan provided a detailed assessment of the South Caucasus peace process, focusing on the Zangezur Corridor.
Following the Aug. 8 agreements at the White House between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Erdogan stressed that progress is tangible and promising.
He noted that both Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are aligned in their commitment to normalization.
“There is no disagreement on the Zangezur Corridor. Aliyev is confident, and the agreements reached during the U.S. visit have been decisive for the next steps,” he said.
Erdogan highlighted that the successful implementation of the corridor and normalization will benefit regional trade, transportation, and cross-border cooperation, with positive ripple effects for Türkiye.
He added that concerns previously raised by Russia and Iran will diminish as the process continues, underscoring Türkiye’s role as a stabilizing and constructive regional actor.
President Erdogan discussed Türkiye’s mediating role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, emphasizing ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a fair and lasting peace.
He highlighted both the Istanbul process and the Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as key initiatives.
“Türkiye has maintained a direct dialogue with both sides from the outset, building trust and creating channels for concrete results, including the grain corridor and prisoner exchanges,” Erdogan stated.
He also noted that discussions with President Putin focused on energy cooperation and regional stability, while telephone diplomacy with President Zelenskyy helped Türkiye gauge Ukraine’s perspective on ongoing negotiations.
Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye continues to pursue a solution-oriented approach, keeping communication lines open with all parties and aiming to transform diplomatic opportunities into tangible outcomes.
“A just and sustainable peace requires inclusion, strengthened negotiation platforms, and continuous engagement with all stakeholders,” he added.
On his return from China, President Erdogan detailed Türkiye’s engagement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, where he met with multiple world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi.
Erdogan emphasized the strategic importance of SCO membership and Türkiye’s commitment to deepening economic, diplomatic and regional ties with Asia.
“The SCO member countries, with a combined population of 3.8 billion and an economic size approaching $30 trillion, reflect the dynamic transformation and growing influence of this bloc,” he said.
He stressed that Türkiye seeks to act as a bridge between East and West, promoting dialogue, equity, and development rather than division.
On bilateral ties with China, Erdogan highlighted cooperation across economic, digital, energy and health sectors, describing the meetings as productive and reinforcing Türkiye’s independent and balanced foreign policy.
President Erdogan strongly condemned the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, highlighting the toll on civilians.
He criticized the United States’ decision to cancel visas for Mahmoud Abbas and 80 Palestinian officials, stating it contradicts the purpose of the United Nations General Assembly.
Erdogan stressed that even if Palestinian representatives cannot attend, the voices of the oppressed in Gaza will be heard internationally.
Erdogan also praised the efforts of First Lady Emine Erdogan, who sent a heartfelt letter to Melania Trump, urging a similar level of attention for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as seen in Ukraine.
He emphasized the power of maternal empathy in influencing international diplomacy, stating that when mothers act on behalf of the vulnerable, they can shift perspectives and prompt action.
Erdogan underscored that the suffering of children and civilians in Gaza must not be ignored, calling on the West to respond with genuine humanitarian concern.
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