'We have cut trade, ties with Israel, period,' Erdogan says
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Erdogan discusses the state of the Middle East amid the election of Donald Trump, Israeli-Turkish ties, and hopes of reconciliation with Syria.
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Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a plenary session at the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP)
Although recent statements made by US President-elect Donald Trump have been concerning, Turkey hopes he would change the country's Middle East approach and policy, broadcaster NTV cited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying.
"Our hope is that Trump takes very different steps toward the region this term because the messages being given from time to time concern us," Erdogan told reporters during his flight back from Baku, noting, however, that it was still too early to determine the reality of matters.
Previously, Erdogan pointed out that Trump’s presidency would significantly impact the political and military landscape in the Middle East, warning that if the policies of the Biden era continue, regional deadlock and conflict would likely escalate.
He expressed hope on Friday that US President-elect Donald Trump would urge "Israel" to halt its war, indicating that an initial step could involve ending US arms support to the Israeli occupation regime, Reuters reported.
Turkey severs trade, ties with occupation
When asked about economic relations with "Israel", Erdogan revealed that no ties were currently established between his nation and the occupation, nor does Turkey wish to develop them under his leadership.
"We have cut trade and ties with Israel, period," he asserted, according to Reuters.
Turkey's exports to "Israel" nearly ceased in May after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's administration halted trade until sufficient humanitarian aid reached Gaza.
According to preliminary data from Turkey’s main exporters association, shipments to "Israel" plummeted 99% year-on-year to $4.4 million. The official statistics service, TurkStat, is set to release comprehensive trade data, including imports, later in June.
At the beginning of May, the Turkish Trade Ministry announced that trade relations with "Israel" would be suspended until Tel Aviv allowed for the "uninterrupted and sufficient flow" of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Turkey also recalled its ambassador to the Israeli occupation last year after the war on Gaza broke out, in addition to engaging in talks and initiatives to impose a global, collective arms embargo on "Israel".
On relations with Syria
Moreover, as Turkey claims to distance itself from the Israeli occupation, Erdogan simultaneously expressed hope to still have the opportunity to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in an effort to mend relations with the neighboring country, CNN Turk reported on Wednesday.
“Restoring ties with Bashar al-Assad will soothe regional tensions, hopefully," Erdogan was quoted as saying.
Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow was receiving serious indications from Damascus and Ankara about their interest in restarting discussions to normalize relations between Syria and Turkey.
Some meetings were convened last year in Moscow involving the foreign and defense ministries, as well as security agencies, as part of a four-party framework including Russia, Iran, Syria, and Turkiye, according to Lavrov. However, differences in the positions of Damascus and Ankara have caused a halt in negotiations.
"We will actively promote re-launching the negotiation process as soon as possible, because both capitals signal that they are quite interested in resuming the dialogue," the Russian diplomat told the Hurriyet newspaper.
