President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appeared as a guest on “Al Muqabala,” hosted by journalist Ali Al-Dhafiri on Al Jazeera, and gave an extensive assessment of Türkiye’s new security approach in the Middle East, regional wars and Ankara’s relations with major powers.
In the interview, which lasted approximately 37 minutes, Erdoğan’s most notable messages included that Türkiye was not seeking war but would not hesitate to defend itself or enter a war if it came under direct attack.
Erdoğan: We will not shy away from war if attacked
Erdoğan was asked about Israeli media portraying Türkiye as one of the major rivals Israel could face in the future.
The president stressed that Türkiye’s fundamental approach was peace, not war.
Erdoğan said Ankara favored global and regional peace, while making clear that Türkiye would defend itself if attacked.
He said Türkiye would not avoid entering a war in the event of an attack, but did not want such a conflict to occur.
The remarks constituted an important deterrence message from Ankara at a time when Türkiye’s regional military capacity and new defense partnerships are being discussed.
“The Mecca defense agreement sends an important message to the world”
One of the central issues in the interview was the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Erdoğan said the agreement signed by the three countries sent an important message to the world.
The president said the agreement was based on a shared understanding of defense and explained that the three countries could act together if any of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia or Pakistan came under an external attack.
Erdoğan said the mechanism’s essence resembled the understanding in Article 5 of NATO, which governs collective defense.
He said the three countries had created a structure capable of defending one another against “all kinds of attacks.”
“Signing it in Mecca gave the agreement special strength”
President Erdoğan also highlighted the symbolic importance of signing the agreement in Mecca.
Erdoğan said choosing Mecca gave the agreement special strength and meaning.
He said Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan saw themselves not as countries seeking war but as states working to preserve peace, and described the agreement as an important message for world peace.
The president also rejected interpreting the structure as a “Sunni alliance.”
Erdoğan said Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had historically attached importance to preserving peace and that the new mechanism would operate in line with this understanding.
Open door to Egypt: “It could join”
One of the interview’s most important diplomatic messages concerned Egypt.
Erdoğan said the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was not limited to the three founding countries.
The president said other countries could join the structure in the future and referred specifically to Egypt’s membership.
Erdoğan said Cairo could join the agreement if it wanted to.
The statement delivered a notable political message that rapidly normalizing relations between Türkiye and Egypt could also extend to security and defense.
However, no decision has been finalized at this stage on Egypt joining the agreement.
US-Iran war: Erdoğan points to Israel
Erdoğan also addressed the war between the United States and Iran.
The president said Türkiye wanted the conflict to end as soon as possible and peace to be established, adding that Ankara stood for peace, not war.
At the same time, Erdoğan said he viewed Israel as the main driving force behind the war.
Erdoğan argued that Israel was constantly encouraging conflict and said other countries in the region were paying a heavy price as a result.
He stressed that Türkiye supported a diplomatic solution rather than further expansion of the conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz is among Türkiye’s priorities
One issue Erdoğan discussed in detail was the Strait of Hormuz.
The president described reopening the strait to maritime traffic as one of Ankara’s key priorities.
Erdoğan said the strait’s continued closure was causing serious problems for world trade and that crossings should resume so oil and energy shipments could continue uninterrupted.
He argued that passage through the strait should be as free and cost-free as possible for the benefit of world trade.
He also said Türkiye and Iran supported removing restrictions on maritime transport.
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Erdoğan praises Qatar’s mediation
Qatar’s role in regional diplomacy was also discussed in the interview.
Erdoğan said Qatar played an important role in mediation efforts between the United States and Iran.
He said he expected Doha to continue this role in the future and also referred to Qatar’s contributions regarding Syria.
The president stressed that cooperation and coordination among Muslim countries should continue.
Notable message on Syrian Kurds
Erdoğan’s remarks on the Kurds were also among the interview’s significant sections.
The president said Türkiye wanted to preserve and develop its relations with the Kurds.
Erdoğan said Kurds in Syria would also share in peace and stability, adding that Türkiye aimed to act in unity and solidarity with Kurdish communities in Iraq, Iran and Syria.
The message drew attention in terms of Türkiye’s approach to the new political order in Syria and the future position of the Kurds.
Erdoğan: We will never leave Syria alone
President Erdoğan clearly stated that Türkiye’s support for Syria would continue.
Describing Syria as a “brother,” Erdoğan said Ankara would not leave the country alone.
He said Türkiye remained in constant contact with Syria’s new administration and that relations were progressing well.
Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue to fulfill its responsibilities to help Syria achieve stability, adding that Ankara had supported the new administration in the past and would continue that support in the future.
Message on a visit to Damascus
Erdoğan also signaled an important visit during the interview.
The president announced that he planned to visit Damascus as soon as possible.
Erdoğan said Türkiye was fulfilling its responsibilities through military, political and diplomatic means to help Syria regain stability, signaling that relations between the two countries could strengthen further in the coming period.
Lebanon: “Israel’s attacks seriously concern us”
The war in Lebanon was another major item on the interview’s agenda.
Erdoğan said they were seriously concerned by Israel’s continuing attacks on Lebanon.
The president said Türkiye would continue to provide Lebanon with every possible form of support, adding that the priority was to help the country emerge from its current conflict environment.
He discussed Lebanon with Trump
Erdoğan said US President Donald Trump had also raised Lebanon during his latest visit to Türkiye.
The president said he had told Trump that Israel’s attacks on Lebanon needed to end.
Erdoğan said talks with Washington on the issue were continuing and that the United States could play an important role in ending the conflict.
Arguing that Israel was the attacking side in the situation in Lebanon, Erdoğan said the operations needed to stop as soon as possible.
Gaza: “We cannot leave it alone”
Erdoğan’s message on Gaza was clear.
The president said Türkiye could not leave Gaza alone and would continue to fulfill every responsibility it had toward the region.
Erdoğan argued that Hamas had remained committed to its pledges in good faith during the current process.
By contrast, Erdoğan said Israel continued its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon and that they had not seen the same positive approach from Israel.
Erdoğan said Trump was also displeased with the ongoing developments and that Ankara would continue warning for the attacks to end.
Support for Sudan, praise for Burhan
President Erdoğan said he was not satisfied with the current situation in Sudan but that Türkiye’s support for the country would continue.
Erdoğan said his relations with Sudan Sovereignty Council President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan were very good, recalling that he had previously hosted Burhan in Türkiye and held talks with him.
Erdoğan described Burhan as a suitable leader for Sudan at the current stage.
Libya: Türkiye will not leave it alone
Libya was also discussed in the interview.
Erdoğan said Türkiye-Libya relations were continuing steadily and that Ankara would not leave Libya alone.
The president said the two countries were cooperating particularly in energy and announced that Türkiye Petrolleri had taken steps to develop Libya’s oil reserves.
The statement was viewed as a sign that Türkiye’s economic and energy activities in Libya could expand in the coming period.
F-35: “We expect Trump to keep his promise”
F-35 fighter jets were among the prominent issues in Türkiye-US relations.
Erdoğan said US President Donald Trump had made him a promise regarding the F-35 and that Türkiye expected this promise to be fulfilled.
The president stressed that the issue was important for Ankara.
Erdoğan said the agenda between Türkiye and the United States was not limited to the defense industry and that the two countries were also working to increase their trade volume.
“Israel is not our interlocutor; we are talking to the United States”
Erdoğan said Israel was not a party to the F-35 issue or other matters concerning Türkiye-US relations.
The president said Washington was Türkiye’s direct interlocutor and that they were discussing these issues with the US administration.
The statement indicated that Türkiye did not view Israel’s possible objections in the F-35 process as making Israel a direct party to the political negotiations.
Russia: “Our relations are very good”
Erdoğan said Türkiye’s relations with Russia were also at a very good level.
The president said the leaders of the two countries remained in constant communication through direct contacts and diplomatic channels, adding that Turkish ministers held regular talks with their Russian counterparts.
He said these contacts played an important role in managing Ankara-Moscow relations.
EU membership is no longer Türkiye’s priority
The interview’s most notable message on Europe concerned Türkiye’s EU membership.
Erdoğan said Europe had not admitted Türkiye to the union for many years and did not appear ready for membership under current conditions.
He made clear that Türkiye had not completely closed the door to EU membership, but that the issue was no longer among Ankara’s primary priorities.
Erdoğan said: “The European Union is not a priority for us.”
The president also argued that if Türkiye continued to be excluded, the European Union would be the real loser.
Erdoğan’s message to the Arab world
At the end of the interview, Erdoğan delivered a direct message to the Arab world.
The president said Türkiye approached all Arab peoples with affection and called for unity and solidarity.
Erdoğan said countries in the region should not harm one another and should continue to act together.
The interview’s main message: regional defense and diplomacy together
Viewed as a whole, Erdoğan’s Al Jazeera interview shows two tracks emerging simultaneously in Ankara’s new regional policy.
On one side are new security structures such as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which seek to strengthen deterrence.
On the other, Erdoğan particularly emphasized that Türkiye preferred peace, mediation and a diplomatic solution over war.
Using both the message “we will not shy away from war if attacked” and the statement “we want peace, not war” in the same interview shows that the president defines Türkiye’s approach through a balance between deterrence and diplomacy.
Leaving the door open to Egypt joining the Mecca Agreement, signaling a visit to Damascus, emphasizing support for Gaza and Lebanon, calling for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen, asking Trump to keep his promise on the F-35 and saying EU membership was no longer a priority turned the interview into a broad political message covering nearly all the main topics of Türkiye’s current foreign policy.
