Erdogan says Israel provocations must end for Middle East peace

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday called for an end to Israel's "endless provocations" as a prerequisite for genuine peace in the Middle East, warning that Tel Aviv seeks to expand the war against Iran across the region for its own ambitions. Speaking to reporters aboard his return flight from Kazakhstan, Erdogan said regional problems should be solved by regional actors themselves while emphasizing that Ankara would continue efforts to prevent the crisis from deepening, according to Anadolu Agency.

Kazakhstan visit strengthens Turkic cooperation

Erdogan said Ankara and Astana had elevated bilateral ties through a new Declaration on Eternal Friendship and Expanded Strategic Partnership signed during his visit, noting that 12 agreements were sealed across various sectors. He highlighted that nearly 5,500 Turkish companies have invested around $6 billion in Kazakhstan while Turkish contractors have undertaken projects worth nearly $30 billion — with the two countries aiming to increase bilateral trade from $10 billion to $15 billion.

Attending the informal Organization of Turkic States summit in Turkistan, Erdogan said leaders signed the Turkistan Declaration to enhance cooperation through digitalization and artificial intelligence. He emphasized Ankara's support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus's participation in the organization, describing the TRNC as "an inseparable part of the Turkic world" and stating that the Turkic world is embracing the Turkish Cypriot people by fulfilling its responsibilities.

NATO summit and EU ties

The Turkish president addressed expectations for the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, saying the alliance faces a "historic decision" regarding the future of global security architecture and emphasizing that fair burden-sharing is essential for the bloc's effectiveness. Erdogan noted that recent developments have increased the importance of the Ankara summit, adding that sincere cooperation and a common understanding of security are necessary as threats have become more complex since the alliance's founding.

On EU relations, Erdogan criticized "discriminatory attitudes" and "shallow statements" from within the bloc while describing Türkiye as "a major opportunity" for Europe. He said Brussels has reached "a crossroads" in its approach to membership talks, warning that inconsistent policies harm the EU at a time of major global transformations and emphasizing that Ankara remains firmly committed to its full membership vision.

Defense industry and US cooperation

Regarding defense ties with Washington, Erdogan said talks over the F-35 fighter jet program were ongoing and expressed hope for a positive outcome. He highlighted the domestically developed fifth-generation fighter jet KAAN as the beginning of a broader transformation in Türkiye's defense industry, noting that the recent SAHA 2026 defense fair in Istanbul attracted more than 150,000 visitors and generated $8 billion in business volume.