Erdoğan to EU: Regional tensions show need for closer ties
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that rising regional tensions underscore the strategic importance of Türkiye-EU relations. He called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, updating the Customs Union, and increasing international pressure on Israel.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has emphasised that escalating regional conflicts highlight the strategic necessity of stronger Türkiye-European Union ties. In a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, Erdoğan discussed bilateral relations alongside regional and global developments, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Communications Directorate on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
Ceasefire efforts and the Strait of Hormuz
Erdoğan stated that Türkiye has been actively working to maintain a ceasefire and secure peace in the ongoing regional conflict, adding that the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened as soon as possible. He accused Israel of seeking to prolong regional conflicts and continuing to violate international law — including acts described as piracy — and stressed the need to increase international pressure on Israel.
Economic integration and security cooperation
The Turkish president underlined that Türkiye’s inclusion in Europe’s security strategy initiatives would be mutually beneficial. He called for an update to the Turkish-EU Customs Union and urged expanded cooperation across all fields to strengthen economic integration and advance shared interests. The call reflects Ankara’s continued push for closer engagement with Brussels amid heightened geopolitical turbulence, including the Iran war, energy supply disruptions, and instability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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