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"All should assume responsibility in order for peace to be established in the Middle East"

Presidency of The Republic of Turkey

25.06.2025

Holding a press conference following the NATO Summit, President Erdoğan, as regards the ceasefire reached between Iran and Israel, said: "We hope that the de facto ceasefire announcement will soon be transformed into lasting calm. We think that all, including the allies, should assume responsibility in order for peace to be established in the Middle East."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference following the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Underscoring that the NATO's efficiency cannot be enhanced solely by increasing defense spending, President Erdoğan drew attention to the establishment of mutual understanding and cooperation among the allies, and said: "In this regard, we have first of all spearheaded the reflection of the understanding aimed at removing the obstacles before the trade of defense industry products among the allies on the Alliance's documents without ifs and buts. We hope that it is implemented with all its elements. I pointed out that the European Union's initiatives in the areas of defense and security should complement NATO. I stressed that including non-member allies in the Alliance's defense industry initiatives will benefit the entire Europe."

"A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY HAS OPENED FOR CEASEFIRE AND PERMANENT PEACE"

Pointing to the regional and global repercussions of the 3-year-long war in Ukraine, President Erdoğan stated that Türkiye maintains its intensive efforts for the end of the war with a just and sustainable peace, and added: "I am of the opinion that a window of opportunity has opened for ceasefire and permanent peace. It should not be wasted. We aim to lay the groundwork of a process to lasting peace by supporting the additional concrete steps between the parties. I hold out my hope that the war will end as soon as possible with the support of the allies. As I always say, a just peace will have no losers."

"THE HUMANITARIAN TRAGEDY IN GAZA HAS TURNED INTO A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER"

Drawing attention to the threats and crises in the Middle East and the oppression in Gaza, President Erdoğan noted that 56 thousand Gazans, most of them women and children, have lost their lives and 129 thousand others have been injured in the Israeli attacks, and went on to say: "The Israeli government prevents the entry of the most fundamental necessaries into Gaza. Due to Israel's preventions and attacks, the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza has turned into a humanitarian disaster. No one with conscience could remain silent to such an atrocity. You can keep quiet while babies sleep, not while they are killed. I hereby call on everyone, who value human life, to raise their voices against this oppression. However, we witness that the international community, especially relevant institutions, has failed to stop Israel. Israel, which knows no rules and overtly violates the international law, adds new ones to its violations each passing day."

Underscoring that Israel cannot ensure the security of its own citizens by destabilizing the region, President Erdoğan said the path to Israel's security, like all the countries in the region, goes through its neighbors' stability, calm and prosperity, and that the ongoing incidents remind once again that the two-state solution on the basis of 1967 borders is inevitable.

"DIPLOMACY AND NEGOTIATION ARE THE ONLY PATH TO THE PERMANENT RESOLUTION"

Also touching upon the recent Iran-Israel conflict, President Erdoğan stated that diplomacy and negotiation are the only path to the permanent resolution of the problems with Iran, and continued as follows: "Our region is full of the examples of achieving nothing through wars, destruction, aggression or threats. We welcome the ceasefire reached as a result of the efforts of President Trump of the U.S., President Erdoğan noted: "We expect the parties to unconditionally obey the call of my treasured friend Trump. We hope that the de facto ceasefire announcement will soon be transformed into lasting calm. We think that all, including the allies, should assume responsibility in order for peace to be established in the Middle East. We will continue to do what falls to us to that end."

President Erdoğan also voiced his pleasure over hosting the NATO allies in Türkiye next year.

Answering reporters' questions following his remarks, President Erdoğan, in response to a question regarding a potential conflict between Türkiye and Israel, President Erdoğan said Türkiye is a country of peace in its region, and endeavors for the prevalence of peace in the region, and added: "However, we will continue to stand up against the oppression there, against Israel's unbearable attitude."

Responding to a question about defense spending and the procurement of Eurofighters, President Erdoğan said: "The steps we will take in the next decade will obviously be from the national budget, and by gradually allocating the necessary share here from the national budget, we will have provided NATO with our support. As regards Eurofighters, we have been in touch with the UK and Germany, and there are positive developments on that issue."

Asked if the U.S. attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities or freeing Hamas hostages or Hamas leaders' taking refuge in Qatar or Türkiye mean establishing stability in the region, and their repercussions on the Türkiye-Israel relations, President Erdoğan stressed that currently peace and calm between Türkiye and Israel are out of the question because the steps taken threaten the peace in the first place, and added: "It is impossible. Think about it, there are over 100 thousand dead and injured people, and they still continue to hit. On the other hand food shipment, including of the Red Cross, cannot be delivered to the oppressed people in Gaza. Who prevents it? Israel. While they continue to take such barbaric steps, how are we supposed to establish a peaceful environment with them?"

Answering a question regarding the F-35 programme and Türkiye's re-inclusion in it, President Erdoğan said that during his meeting with President Trump of the U.S. they discussed the issue, and relevant officials from both sides continue the discussions concerning the procurement.

Asked about PKK's decision to dissolve itself and lay down arms, and about his personal message to Kurds living not only in Türkiye but in the region, President Erdoğan drew attention to their potential in the parliament, and stressed that it is his duty protect the unity of Türkiye, which he will continue to do so.