The Turkish Ministry of Defense on Thursday congratulated NATO on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the alliance.

This came in a publication in Turkish and English by the ministry on its official account on the X platform.

The ministry stated in its congratulations, “We congratulate the happy 75th anniversary of the founding of NATO, in which we have been a distinguished member since 1952.”

It was emphasized that Turkey would continue to perform all its duties and tasks successfully, as it has done since joining the alliance, and it was also emphasized that it would remain an active and constructive member of NATO.

In the same context, the Ministry of Defense announced that you can visit the ministry’s mobile application to view the content prepared on this topic.​​​​​​​

Turkey officially joined NATO on February 18, 1952, and the accession protocol was signed by the then President of the Republic, Celal Bayar.

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The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a statement from the ministry’s account on platform

“In this exceptional period full of unprecedented challenges that the world is going through, we celebrate the seventy-second anniversary of our country’s membership in NATO.

Which maintains its unique and indispensable position for the Alliance, and we continue to support international peace and stability in this spirit, and with the solidarity that is the basis of the Alliance, and to have a say in the future of NATO.

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the European Union is not an alternative to NATO.

This is with regard to European security, emphasizing the importance of Türkiye to NATO’s southern wing.

This came in statements he made to reporters on Thursday, prior to the meeting of NATO defense ministers in the Belgian capital, Brussels.

Stoltenberg also expressed his welcome for European members of NATO to make more investments in the field of defense, which NATO has called for for many years.

He pointed out that NATO also calls on its European allies to invest more in advanced capabilities and make more of their forces highly prepared.

He explained that the allies in Europe are responding to this matter, “but this is not an alternative to NATO, but rather a way to strengthen it.”

He stressed the need not to resort to any means that suggest that the alliance is trying to separate Europe from North America.

Stoltenberg pointed out that the share of allied countries other than European Union countries in NATO’s defense expenditures amounts to 80 percent.

 In addition, he stated, “It’s not just about resources but also about geography.

If you look to the south you will see Turkey, which is not a member of the European Union but is important to our southern flank.”

He stressed that there are countries such as Norway and Iceland in the north, and although they are not major military powers, they are important in terms of transatlantic communication.

The United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are not members of the European Union, but they are important to Europe’s security.

 He continued: “Therefore, the strength of NATO lies in our bringing Europe and North America together.”

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Following the interim decisions taken by the International Court of Justice in the genocide case against Israel.

The path has been paved for the trial and arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli army commanders in accordance with court decisions and the internal law of their countries.

Hassan Chad noted the importance of the International Court of Justice describing the case against Israel as a “reasonable case,” and said:

“This (resolution) is the first step towards holding Israel responsible for some, but not all, acts of genocide.

Therefore, this decision also established the legal basis for Israel’s responsibility, and I see a lot of political momentum building here.

​​States must take the necessary steps to prosecute those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide within their domestic laws.

We are unlikely to see news of arrest warrants being issued against Benjamin Netanyahu or IDF leaders and individuals who will participate in the military campaign in the very near future.

“It is indeed possible, and once that happens, it will be the day Israel regrets its actions in Gaza.”

Chad stated that it is possible for the United States, which is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to use its veto power against the decisions that will be taken here, and he said:

“The decisions of the International Court of Justice have also affected countries that stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel and provide Israel with weapons, tools and methods to carry out this campaign of genocide.

“Given the circumstances, if the United States wanted to veto that, that would be very difficult.”

“I think that will happen after the International Court of Justice’s decision. The pressure on Netanyahu will increase from an internal political perspective.

He stated that South Africa had played its role in this issue, and that other countries should also think about what they should do, and he said:

“There is also a need to put pressure on countries that support Israel because without the support of these countries Israel would not have the ability to do these things.

Israel is currently accused of genocide, so countries say “end its occupation of Palestine or perhaps even prove that it is not committing genocide in Gaza.

“They have every moral and legal reason to say: We have a legal obligation to initiate a boycott.”

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On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Istanbul.

The meeting took place at Wahiddin Palace in Istanbul and was attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the head of the Intelligence Service, Ibrahim Kalin, and the US Ambassador to Ankara, Jeffrey Flake.

Earlier on Saturday, Fidan and Blinken held a meeting in which they discussed “the war in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis, the process of Sweden joining NATO, and bilateral and regional issues,” according to a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Yesterday, Friday, Blinken arrived in Turkey at the beginning of a Middle Eastern tour to discuss developments in the war on Gaza.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement Thursday that Blinken will discuss a number of critical issues with his counterparts over the course of a week in Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the West Bank.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country has never viewed its neighbor Greece as an enemy or adversary, and that there are no unsolvable problems with its neighbors.

This came in an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini regarding relations between Ankara and Athens, ahead of an official visit he intends to make to Greece tomorrow, Thursday, December 7.

Erdogan referred to many outstanding issues between Turkey and Greece, stressing that the two countries are aware of this, but whether or not to allow these problems to raise tension between the two governments and the two peoples is also in the hands of the two countries.

He explained that in this context he recently spoke about “opening a new page” and the “win-win” principle in relations between Turkey and Greece.

He stressed that the “win-win” principle lies at the core of Turkey’s approach to international relations and diplomacy.

Erdogan stressed that addressing differences through dialogue and meeting on common ground will benefit everyone.

He pointed out that Turkey and Greece have recently gained good momentum regarding shaping their relations within the framework of this approach.

He added: “The channels of dialogue between us are open and operating at all levels, and our mutual visits are also intense. We have the desire to develop our cooperation in many important areas for our two countries and our region on the basis of mutual trust.”

He continued: “Now, it is the responsibility of both parties to strengthen this approach, institutionalize it, and advance it further.”

He expressed his belief that “Mr. (Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos) Mitsotakis also has the same will.”

Erdogan stated that this common intention will be clearly recorded thanks to the declaration on friendly relations and good neighborliness scheduled to be signed in Athens tomorrow, Thursday.

He stressed that Turkey has never viewed its neighbor Greece as an enemy or adversary. “We, like all countries, need friends, not enemies.”

Erdogan added: “I say it frequently; we believe that we do not have any insurmountable problems with our neighbors, especially Greece.”

He said: “I think what has changed recently is that the Greek side reconsidered its point of view towards us and began to understand that we are a people who never reject the hand of friendship extended to them.”

He stressed that Turkey never hesitates to respond to attempts to target the security of its people, the integrity of its territory, and its national interests, and at the same time it is open to enhancing cooperation and friendship.

He pointed out that Mitsotakis understood this matter and was able to see Turkey’s sincere desire to overcome existing problems and improve relations with Greece.

Erdogan explained that he was happy to observe a similar approach in Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis.

Erdogan added that there are many problems between the two countries in addition to the issue of the continental shelf, and that they must be viewed together in one package.

He stressed that addressing issues selectively, talking about some and leaving others is not a correct approach because they are all interconnected.

He continued: “We must not leave any problems behind when we resort to international justice, but above all we must speak about all our problems with courage and direct public opinion correctly.”

He said that if Greece offered a similar approach to Turkey, away from foreign interference, a good start could be made towards building a peaceful future for both countries.

Regarding cooperation in the field of energy, Erdogan stressed that there are opportunities and potentials for cooperation between the two countries in the Mediterranean, and that benefiting from them can contribute to the energy security of the countries of the region and the resolution of political issues.

He stressed that attempts to exploit the potential here politically will bring with it the risk of being unable to use the region’s potential energy resources.

The Turkish President added: “We believe that energy is an element of cooperation and common profit between all countries and societies, and we want to resolve differences through dialogue. We prefer cooperation and are ready for it.”

He continued: “For this reason, I had twice proposed organizing a comprehensive conference on the opportunities available in the eastern Mediterranean, but it is unfortunate that the European Union at the forefront has remained silent about this matter, and silence does not solve problems.”

He added: “The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also proposed that the reserves be operated jointly and revenues be shared until a comprehensive solution is reached on the island, and we support this proposal.”

He said: “What prevents the establishment of cooperation between the two parts of the island at a time when other countries in the region are moving in this direction?”

He also pointed out that there are many issues on which the two countries can cooperate in the Aegean Sea, adding: “Everything for peace and prosperity for our peoples and future generations.”

He continued that the Turkish Republic, which was established on the foundations of tolerance and embracing other cultures, continues to this day to work with a system that protects endowment institutions and their rights and transfers them to the future, pointing out that the endowment that owns the Hagia Sophia Mosque still exists today.

Regarding illegal immigration, Erdogan pointed to the increase in the migration movement in the world for several reasons, most notably political instability, which has led to an increase in the spread of criminal networks that exploit this and achieve very high profits from illegal immigration.

He added: “I say it again that no country can combat illegal immigration alone,” noting that it is a common test for countries that requires joint efforts.

He stressed the need for the European Union to support Turkey in this regard, stressing that it is necessary to share burdens and responsibilities and take joint steps to prevent migration at its source.

He stressed that the fight against migration should not be limited to cooperation between Turkey and Greece in the Aegean Sea, but rather there is a need for a broad struggle that requires the participation of the entire international community.

We have become the voice of justice and conscience in international relations

President Erdogan pointed out that Turkey and Greece joined NATO together 71 years ago, pointing out that the criterion of being Western or European is not enough to join the European Union.

He explained that Turkey is a founding member of many international organizations such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

He stressed that Turkey always stands on the side of justice and the voice of conscience in international relations, stressing that one of his country’s most prominent goals is to stand in the right place throughout history.

He added that Turkey’s standing by the Palestinian people who are being subjected to persecution and inhuman treatment, and its criticism of Israel for violating international law, international humanitarian law, and human rights, are considered a natural necessity for its goal (to stand in the right place throughout history).

He pointed out that some European countries have begun to take increasingly similar positions.

He stressed that “instead of discussing Turkey’s orientations and affiliation, we should discuss the fact that some Western countries sometimes ignore the values that they strongly defend.”

He continued, “The silence on the brutality in Gaza is the most prominent example of this. In fact, by opposing the genocide in Gaza, we are also defending the basic values of Western society.”

He added: “The basic rights of the people of Gaza of all ages are being violated. Where are the values of Western civilization in terms of silence about blatant human rights violations, ignoring people’s property rights, systematically confiscating their homes and lands, and depriving Palestinians of their right to determine their future?”

He added: “Is bombing hospitals, shooting schools, refugee camps, markets, and killing civilians consistent with Western values? Is it acceptable for the West to ask people in Gaza to ‘go south’ and drop bombs on those who go there?”

President Erdogan concluded by saying: “Now I ask: Is Turkey the one who belongs to the West or the Western countries that are deliberately silent about everything that is happening in Gaza?”

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The American newspaper “Politico” included Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom it described as a “mediator”, among “the most powerful figures in Europe 2024.”

The newspaper prepared a list of 28 names from Europe for “Europe’s Most Powerful Personalities 2024” and classified them into 3 separate categories.

The Turkish president ranked fifth in the “Doers” category, and the newspaper described him as a “mediator.”

The newspaper mentioned in a profile of the Turkish president published on its website that he had sought to present himself as a “strong geopolitical leader” for a long time, and had survived a failed coup attempt in 2016.

It reported that Erdogan “recently made the most of the two biggest geopolitical crises, which are the Russian-Ukrainian war and the conflict between Israel and Hamas.”

His role in Ukraine and Gaza

It added: “Erdogan is one of the few people who have connections to the Kremlin and the Ukrainian president’s office at the same time, and he has assumed the mediation role since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his forces to Ukraine in 2022.”

It also pointed out that the Turkish President led the grain shipping agreement through the Black Sea and strove hard for its continuation.

It noted that after the Hamas attacks on the Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip on October 7, Erdogan again wanted to play the role of “mediation.”

It explained that he held de-escalation talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as the leaders of Egypt, Lebanon and Qatar.

Erdogan later sided with Palestine, describing Israel as the “occupier,” and stressing that “the West is the real culprit behind the massacre taking place in Gaza,” according to Politico.

“European officials are discussing ways to enhance cooperation with Erdogan”

The newspaper reported that Erdogan tried to bring himself back into the European Union’s orbit and used Sweden’s membership path in NATO to “depart” from the long-stalled path of Turkey’s membership in the European Union.

It pointed out that European Union membership is not currently being discussed in Turkey, and added: “However, European Union officials are looking for ways to enhance cooperation with Erdogan. This can be considered another geopolitical victory for the Turkish leader.”

In the same category, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ranked first, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ranked second, French President Emmanuel Macron ranked third, and the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, ranked fourth.

Erdogan was followed by European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic, far-right Marine Le Pen, who competed in France’s presidential elections last year, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, and Britain’s main opposition Labor Party leader, Keir Starmer.

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that Turkey has the right to defend itself against terrorist organizations such as the PKK, stressing the need for NATO to cooperate with Ankara in combating terrorism.

Stoltenberg explained in a statement to reporters on Monday that Ankara has legitimate concerns about terrorist organizations, noting that Turkey is the country most exposed to terrorist attacks among NATO countries.

He stressed that all NATO countries consider the PKK a terrorist organization.

Regarding Sweden’s accession to NATO, Stoltenberg said: “The Swedish government has fulfilled the promises it made to Turkey, and now it is time for the Turkish parliament to ratify Stockholm’s membership.”

On November 16, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Parliament decided to postpone discussion of the draft law approving the protocol for Sweden’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

On October 23, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed Sweden’s accession protocol to NATO.

In mid-July, the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, hosted a tripartite meeting that included President Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Following the meeting, a tripartite statement confirmed that Ankara would refer the protocols for Sweden’s accession to the alliance to Parliament for ratification, and that Stockholm would support efforts to revive Turkey’s accession process to the European Union.​​​​​​

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Turkey played a constructive and important role in exporting grains from Ukraine, expressing his thanks to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his personal contributions in this regard.

This came in a press conference by the German Chancellor and the Turkish President as part of a one-day working visit by Erdogan to the capital, Berlin.

Scholz explained: “Turkey played a constructive and important role in exporting grains from Ukraine. I thank President Erdogan for his personal contributions.”

The German Chancellor pointed out that they are dealing with many crises in the world.

He stated that they agreed with President Erdogan to end “Russian aggression” against Ukraine.

He recalled that the proposal regarding the protocol for Sweden’s accession to NATO had been submitted to the Turkish Parliament for ratification, expressing his belief that Sweden would become a member of it.

Referring to the Israeli attacks on Gaza, Scholz said that they “unequivocally condemn Hamas.”

He added: “We will talk about what we can do in light of the tension in the region. We are concerned about the spread of conflict in the region.”

He continued: “Israel has the right to defend itself in accordance with international law, and we say that every life has equal value. What the people of Gaza are going through also saddens us, and this year we are also providing assistance worth 160 million euros.”

He continued: “The two-state solution must be the ultimate goal. Israel’s right to exist is a must for us, and there is no place for anti-Semitism in our country.”

Regarding the number of Muslims in his country, Scholz said, “Five million Muslims have a place here in Germany, and we are against those who deny them.”

The German Chancellor stated that there are great tensions in the Middle East and that what is happening in the region concerns them.

He added: “It is true that we partly differ in opinions. It is important to speak directly in difficult times.”

He indicated that he would discuss with President Erdogan the tangible progress regarding Turkey’s membership in the European Union, adding: “We have fallen behind our potential in relations, and we will see what kind of progress we can achieve here.”

Speaking about the importance of irregular migration, Scholz said: “We want to reduce it. A good agreement was reached (with Turkey) in 2016. We want to contribute to improving (this agreement) in the European Union and maintaining it. This agreement is for our mutual benefit.” .

He stressed that the German and Turkish peoples have close relations in many aspects, indicating that the importance of this relationship was demonstrated by the aid provided by Germany during the earthquake of February 6, 2023 in Turkey.

In the question-and-answer section of the press conference, Scholz reiterated Germany’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself and said: “We must reduce the number of civilian casualties.”

He stressed that Germany had taken steps at an early stage to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and accused Hamas of “holding Gaza hostage.”

He pointed out that negotiations had been held with countries such as Egypt, Qatar and Turkey to release the hostages and allow foreign citizens in Gaza to leave the region, recalling that this issue was also raised at the European Union summit.

Scholz said that Hamas should be prevented from repeating the attacks of last October 7, stressing the need to support the two-state solution as a perspective for the future.

He pointed to the importance of Turkey’s support for the Black Sea Grains Initiative, adding: “There was very good mediation (by Turkey). Unfortunately, and very sadly, Russia withdrew from this agreement.”

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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed to his American counterpart, Anthony Blinken, the necessity of declaring a complete and immediate ceasefire in Gaza, against which Israel has been waging war since last October 7.

This came during the two ministers’ discussions in Ankara on Monday, according to Turkish diplomatic sources, during which they discussed regional developments, particularly the latest developments in the situation in Gaza and bilateral relations.

During the meeting, Fidan stressed to his American counterpart the necessity of “preventing Israel’s targeting of civilians and their displacement in Gaza and declaring a complete and immediate ceasefire.”

During the meeting in which views were exchanged on Gaza, the two sides confirmed that they agreed on the need to ensure that no harm was caused to civilians and that humanitarian aid was delivered continuously and without interruption.

The source said regarding the meeting: “Turkey and the United States agree on the need not to harm civilians in Gaza and to deliver humanitarian aid.”

The source reported that during today’s meeting in Ankara between Fidan and Blinken, “the necessity of working together for a two-state solution was also emphasized.”

During the discussions, the Turkish Foreign Minister assured his American counterpart that bombing civilian targets and destroying infrastructure in Gaza was “unacceptable.”

On another level, during the meeting that took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara, the two ministers discussed the NATO expansion process within the framework of Sweden’s membership and bilateral and regional issues.

It is noteworthy that the bilateral and expanded discussions between the two sides lasted about two and a half hours, and after the talks, Blinken left Turkey.

Blinken’s visit to Turkey comes after a Middle Eastern tour that he began with a visit to Israel.

During his tour with his counterparts in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, Blinken discussed the Israeli war on Gaza.

He also went to the West Bank with a surprise visit, during which he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, followed by a visit to Greek Cyprus, where he met with its head of administration, Nikos Christodoulides.

Later, the American Minister visited the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, during which he discussed with Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani the situation in Gaza.

After Ankara, Blinken is expected to head to Tokyo, Seoul, and New Delhi.

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