Newsletters
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cautioned Wednesday that the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran is beginning to destabilize Europe, urging a peace-centered response to prevent the fallout from escalating further.
Erdogan made the remarks during a phone call with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in which the two leaders discussed bilateral Türkiye-Germany relations alongside regional and global developments, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency's communications directorate.
"The war in our region is likewise starting to weaken Europe," Erdogan told his German counterpart, warning that without an approach that prioritizes peace, "the damage caused by the conflict will be far greater."
Beyond the Iran conflict, Erdogan said Türkiye was also actively working to bring the Ukraine-Russia war to an end through negotiations, drawing a parallel between Ankara's diplomatic efforts on both fronts.
The Turkish president framed his country's role as one of consistent engagement, working toward lasting peace rather than choosing sides in either conflict.
Türkiye has historically positioned itself as a mediator between warring parties, notably hosting talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul in the early weeks of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ankara's geographic and political position, maintaining ties with both NATO allies and Russia, has allowed it to serve as a conduit for diplomacy in multiple crises.
1 min read
Erdogan also noted that Türkiye-Germany relations have gained positive momentum in recent months through a series of high-level contacts between the two countries, signaling a warmer period in ties that have at times been strained over issues including human rights and migration policy.
Germany is one of Türkiye's most important European partners, with deep economic interdependence and a large Turkish diaspora community in Germany numbering several million people.
The Turkish president's message carried an implicit appeal to European leaders to take a more active role in de-escalating conflicts on the continent's periphery.
Erdogan's framing, that wars in Türkiye's neighborhood are no longer a distant concern for Europe but an active source of weakening, reflects Ankara's longstanding argument that regional instability carries direct consequences for European security and economic stability.
The call between Erdogan and Steinmeier was announced by the Turkish presidency on Wednesday evening.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
