Joining BRICS does not imply departure from NATO: President Erdogan

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday addressed the possibility of Türkiye joining BRICS, clarifying that joining the bloc doesn’t imply leaving NATO.

The president made these comments before departing from New York, where he attended and delivered a speech at the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

“BRICS and ASEAN offer opportunities to enhance our economic cooperation. Being part of these structures does not mean abandoning NATO. We do not view these alliances as alternatives to each other,” Erdogan said.

“Those who say ‘Don’t join BRICS or any other structure’ are the same people who kept Türkiye waiting at the EU’s door for years,” he added.

He emphasized that Türkiye’s inclusion in regional partnerships like BRICS and ASEAN would shift regional dynamics.

Israel tries to ‘spread conflict’

Erdogan condemned Israel’s recent actions, accusing the country of attempting to spread the Gaza conflict throughout the region.

“Israel, as we have warned for months, uses every means to spread the flames from Gaza across the region. The attacks on Lebanon are the latest example. More than 600 Lebanese have been killed in the past week,” he said.

“We will provide Lebanon support to recover and consider how to restore it to its original state. Our wish is for Lebanon to overcome trauma as soon as possible,” Erdogan stated.

He further criticized the international community’s silence and the continued military support for Israel from Western nations. “As long as the world remains silent and Western countries provide Israel with arms, these massacres will unfortunately continue,” Erdogan noted, emphasizing Türkiye’s efforts at the U.N. to spotlight the escalating threat.

Erdogan called Israel’s membership in the U.N. “a disgrace.”

“It is shameful that a criminal who has committed genocide in Palestine can be part of the United Nations. This betrays the memory of the babies, children, mothers, fathers, U.N. staff, journalists, and many others who have been brutally killed,” he said.

Erdogan also highlighted the behavior of Israeli delegates during the General Assembly, stating: “If you observed the Israeli delegation’s demeanor after our speech, it was quite odd. They have no defense. Their stance shows that. We continue to call on everyone to stand on the right side of history.”

Erdogan slams UN, deems it ineffective

The Turkish leader criticized the U.N., asserting that the organization has failed to fulfill its mission.

“The United Nations is an institution that cannot prevent wars, make anyone listen, protect its own personnel, or hold Israel accountable for killing them,” he said.

Erdogan also criticized the U.N. Security Council, stating: “The U.N. has become an institution that defends a system where the powerful are always right, and it has lost its functionality. Under the current system, the five permanent members of the Security Council can act mercilessly without consequence.”

Türkiye’s role in Ukraine peace efforts

In response to a question about hosting a peace conference on Ukraine, Erdogan emphasized Türkiye’s ability to engage with both Russia and Ukraine.

“We hope to play a role in bringing peace to the region. Türkiye is perhaps the nation that desires a just peace in the Ukraine-Russia war the most. We have never hesitated to take responsibility and are actively striving for peace. This war can end through diplomacy and dialogue,” he said.

Türkiye important for NATO

Commenting on NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s farewell speech, in which Stoltenberg acknowledged Türkiye’s critical role in Europe’s security, Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s value as a NATO ally.

Türkiye is a reliable ally that fully understands and fulfills its responsibilities within NATO. Europe knows Türkiye’s importance to NATO, but sometimes overlooks it.

President Erdogan

Erdogan also warned of potential challenges within NATO. “If NATO risks turning the principle of ‘all for one, one for all’ into ‘all for some, some for all,’ corruption will follow. Measures must be taken and implemented without delay to prevent this,” he emphasized.

Türkiye to claim $1.45B from US for F-35s

Touching on U.S.-Türkiye relations, Erdogan made remarks regarding the F-35 issue. He stated that they would monitor whether the problem persists after the elections, noting that Türkiye has a claim of $1.45 billion and will take steps to recover it.

“We are owed $1.45 billion. This is not a trivial amount. We will continue to take steps to collect this debt,” Erdogan concluded.