Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday that Trkiye is undertaking diplomatic initiatives to lower tensions in the Middle East, particularly in relation to US and Israeli actions against Iran. Erdogan emphasized the importance of extending the current two-week ceasefire and continuing dialogue during a meeting with his Justice and Development (AK) Party's parliamentary group.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan stressed the need for the Israeli government to respect the ceasefire process, which he claimed they are unhappy with. He urged that negotiations should be conducted in an atmosphere of peace and dialogue, rather than hostility and conflict. Erdogan highlighted the importance of utilizing the opportunity presented by the ceasefire to achieve a peaceful resolution.
Erdogan further elaborated on the detrimental nature of prolonged conflicts, noting that they often result in widespread suffering, while a just peace can benefit many. He called for a long-term perspective focusing on the advantages of peace and diplomacy to address complex regional issues.
In his address, Erdogan also commended Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for his stance against Israeli actions in Gaza, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a threat to regional stability. He reiterated Trkiye's commitment to supporting the rights of Palestinians and condemned the actions of the Israeli government.
Erdogan also took the opportunity to respond to Netanyahu's criticisms of him and Trkiye. He underscored that Trkiye is not an ordinary state and defended its position on the international stage. The Turkish Foreign Ministry had previously condemned Netanyahu's remarks, describing them as misguided and a reaction to Trkiye's outspoken stance on regional issues.
The ministry's statement also highlighted the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. It reaffirmed Trkiye's commitment to holding Netanyahu accountable and supporting peace efforts.
In addition to discussing regional tensions, Erdogan outlined Trkiye's energy ambitions. He noted that Trkiye has developed the world's fourth-largest deep-sea fleet and is currently supplying natural gas to 4 million households, with plans to expand this to 8 million by 2026 and 16-17 million by 2028.
Erdogan announced that the ultra-deep-sea drilling ship Cagri Bey has commenced hydrocarbon exploration off the coast of Somalia, following promising research by the Oruc Reis vessel. He emphasized that Trkiye's energy projects aim to benefit friendly nations like Somalia.
Erdogan concluded by expressing Trkiye's commitment to fostering collaborative energy projects and supporting regional peace initiatives.