Trkiye: Trkiye, along with 53 other signatories, has sent a joint letter to the UN Security Council urging it to take immediate action to halt the flow of weapons and ammunition to Israel, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Sunday. The letter, led by Trkiye’s initiative, was signed by 52 countries and two international organizations, and submitted to the UN on Nov. 1, calling for a cessation of arms supplies to Israel.
According to Anadolu Agency, Fidan stated at a news conference in Djibouti, where he attended the third Ministerial Review Conference of Trkiye-Africa Partnership, that selling weapons to Israel amounts to complicity in genocide. He emphasized that Israel’s ability to procure weapons and ammunition from other countries has fueled terror in the region. Fidan urged the international community to prevent Israel from purchasing arms and munitions and to keep the matter on the agenda at every platform.
Fidan further criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administrat
ion, describing it as a global threat and urging countries to prevent Israel from ignoring international law. He claimed there is genocide in Gaza and that Netanyahu’s intention is to eliminate the two-state solution by any means possible. Additionally, he accused Netanyahu of trying to expand the conflict to other regions, particularly Lebanon, and stressed the need for collective action to prevent further violations of international law by Israel.
Fidan also expressed Trkiye’s support for African nations in voicing global conscience, highlighting South Africa’s role in spearheading the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. He called for a transformation of the global international order, asserting that African countries will lead this change.
In terms of relations with Africa, Fidan noted that Ankara’s actions are guided by an understanding of equal partnership and mutual benefit. He emphasized the importance of finding African solutions for Africa’s problems and the aim for
projects to provide lasting contributions to the continent. Trkiye’s cooperation with Africa is described as multidimensional, involving public institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations.
Fidan highlighted Djibouti as one of Trkiye’s most important partners in Africa, with ongoing collaboration to address numerous challenges facing the continent, from food security to climate change. Trkiye currently has 44 embassies and six consulates in Africa, and the number of African embassies in Ankara has reached 38. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds the record for the most visits to Africa by a leader from outside the continent.
Economic cooperation between Trkiye and Africa has also advanced, with trade volume increasing from $5.4 billion in 2003 to $35 billion in 2023. Trkiye’s direct investments in Africa have surpassed $7 billion, with Turkish companies undertaking over 1,800 projects valued at approximately $85 billion. Fidan expressed Trkiye’s desire to further increase these
figures in collaboration with African partners.
Regarding the Ministerial Review Conference of Trkiye-Africa Partnership, Fidan expressed confidence that it significantly boosted Ankara’s cooperation with the African Union. The conference addressed regional and global developments, particularly in the Middle East. Decisions made during the conference, also known as the Third Trkiye-Africa Partnership Summit, were highlighted, with progress on goals outlined in the 2022-2026 Joint Action Plan being assessed. Preparations for the next summit in 2026 were also discussed, with plans for a joint working group to track activities in collaboration with the African Union. A joint declaration adopted at the conference will guide future efforts, along with the 2022-2024 joint implementation report.