President Erdogan rules out WWIII possibility after attending SCO, NATO summits

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed concerns about a potential World War III on Friday, following his participation in two major international summits. His comments came after attending both the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and the NATO leaders’ summit in quick succession.

The NATO gathering, which began on Tuesday and concludes on Thursday in Washington, D.C., brought together heads of state and government from across the alliance. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the attendees, including Erdogan, setting the stage for high-level discussions on global security issues.

On his return flight from the NATO summit, Erdogan addressed journalists’ questions about the increasing frequency of World War III predictions. When asked if he perceived a high risk of such a conflict after attending these two major international summits, Erdogan responded firmly: “Frankly, I don’t see it, and I don’t want to see it.”

President Erdogan’s stance comes at a time of heightened global tensions, with various flashpoints causing concern in diplomatic circles. However, Erdogan emphasized the importance of learning from history to prevent future conflicts. “When we consider the reasons that dragged the world into war before and the precautions that were not taken, it is clear that we need to be careful not to fall into those mistakes today,” he remarked.

Erdogan stressed the need for a shift in global rhetoric, calling for a focus on peace rather than conflict. “We should talk about peace more than war,” he said, adding, “We should take every step for peace, not tension, and make our plans to ensure and perpetuate peace.”

Erdogan’s comments gain additional weight considering his recent participation in the 24th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Summit on July 4, just days before the NATO meeting. This dual engagement underscores Türkiye’s unique position as a bridge between different geopolitical spheres and alliances.