Austria praises Türkiye’s role in Russia-Ukraine peace efforts

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker voiced support for Türkiye’s efforts to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end during talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday. Stocker said Austria values Ankara’s diplomatic role and Erdogan’s direct efforts to facilitate an end to the conflict.

Türkiye’s regional influence highlighted

Stocker described Türkiye as a key player in the Middle East and underlined the country’s growing diplomatic weight in the region. “Looking at the Middle East, we see that Türkiye’s voice carries weight,” he said, adding that diplomacy and dialogue remain essential to breaking the cycle of violence.

The Austrian chancellor also stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and protecting freedom of navigation. He said Austria and Türkiye share a common position on the need to safeguard maritime access and stability.

Strong economic partnership

Stocker said Austria continues to attach importance to its economic relationship with Türkiye despite difficult geopolitical conditions. He noted that Austrian investment in Türkiye has remained substantial and argued that the two countries should make greater use of their existing economic potential.

He described Türkiye-Austria relations as being built on decades of political, economic and social interaction. Stocker also pointed to the contribution of Turkish-origin residents who moved to Austria from the 1960s onward, saying more than 300,000 people of Turkish origin now live in the country.

“Good integration and living together based on mutual respect are very important,” Stocker said, emphasizing the social dimension of bilateral relations.

Railways among areas for closer cooperation

The Austrian chancellor said both countries could further expand economic cooperation, particularly through cross-border railway projects. He argued that stronger connectivity could create additional opportunities for businesses and deepen the economic partnership between Türkiye and Austria.

Türkiye central to security and migration

Stocker also identified Türkiye as an important partner for Austria and the European Union on security and migration. He said Vienna cooperates with Ankara on combating irregular migration, human trafficking and organized crime.

He also highlighted Türkiye’s role in hosting Syrian refugees for more than a decade, describing the effort as significant. According to Stocker, cooperation on the return of third-country nationals is another important area where Ankara and European partners can work together.

While acknowledging progress, Stocker said further coordination is necessary to avoid another migration crisis. “I believe we can prevent a new migration crisis only by working together,” he said, arguing that the EU should avoid repeating shortcomings from previous years.