Ankara, May 16 (SANA) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Saturday that ending Israeli “provocations” is essential to easing tensions in the region, according to remarks reported by Anadolu Agency during his return from Kazakhstan.
Erdoğan said that “ongoing Israeli provocations” are among the main causes of the worsening regional crisis, adding that Israel “does not hesitate to inflame the region in pursuit of its interests.”
He added that Israel is seeking to expand the conflict and deepen instability across the Middle East.
“It is necessary to end Israel’s provocations, then build real peace,” Erdoğan said, adding that Türkiye is doing “everything in its power to prevent this chaos from becoming more complex.”
He stressed that countries in the region are capable of resolving their own problems and called for greater joint efforts to achieve peace, stability and security.
Separately, Erdoğan said the upcoming NATO summit, scheduled to be held in Ankara on July 7–8, will be critical for the alliance’s future, expressing expectations that major decisions regarding global security will be made.
He noted that the world is undergoing profound changes compared to the period when NATO was founded, with threats becoming increasingly complex and diverse, requiring a reassessment of collective security and burden-sharing within the alliance.
On relations with the European Union, Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to full EU membership, describing the country as a “major opportunity” for Europe and urging the bloc to take a “historic decision” regarding future ties.
Regarding defense industries, Erdoğan said the domestic fighter jet project “KAAN” continues to make progress, calling it a step toward a new phase in Türkiye’s aerospace and defense sector.
He also highlighted the “SAHA 2026” defense exhibition held in Istanbul, which he said showcased more than 200 new products and generated agreements worth $8 billion.
Erdoğan said Friday that ongoing regional and global crises require Türkiye and other countries to strengthen defense capabilities and expand industrial cooperation.
M.Q.R
