President Erdogan to discuss Ukraine war with NATO chief in Ankara
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shaking hands with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (L) during a joint press conference after their meeting at Vahdettin Pavilion in Istanbul. (AFP Photo/Turkish Presidency Press Office)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara on Monday to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and other key issues, a Turkish official said to Reuters on Sunday.
Focus on Russia-Ukraine war
The meeting will address recent developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, including Moscow’s latest use of a hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile in response to Ukraine’s deployment of U.S. and British missiles.
Türkiye, a NATO member and Black Sea neighbor to both Russia and Ukraine, has condemned the invasion and supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity, providing military aid to Kyiv.
Erdogan’s stance on escalation of war
Last week, President Erdogan criticized a U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles against targets inside Russia, stating that such actions risk escalating the war.
“From the start of the Ukraine-Russia war, we have advocated for peace through diplomacy, not more weapons, bloodshed and tears,” Erdogan emphasized.
He warned that Biden’s move risks provoking stronger reactions from Russia, referencing President Vladimir Putin’s approval of a doctrine allowing nuclear responses to ballistic missile attacks.
Erdogan raised concerns that the missile authorization could bring the world closer to a devastating war. He described the decision as reflective of a “deluge after me” approach, noting: “This path leads nowhere.”
He called on all parties to avoid provocations and maintain calm, likening any misstep to “throwing a spark into a powder keg.” Erdogan urged caution to prevent the conflict from spiraling into greater instability.
Threat of nuclear war no joke, warns FM Fidan
Answering the question of the journalists about the global war and how realistic the danger of nuclear war is within the framework of the doctrine, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan asserted: “Frankly, nuclear risk occurs from the moment the word nuclear starts to be discussed… This is not a joke.”
Referring to Russia, Fidan commented that attacks inside their territory could be tolerated until only a ‘higher tool’ is necessary to stop it if current methods do not work.
Fidan outlined that goodwill was demonstrated regarding normalization steps with Syria and that Trump’s second term is harder to analyze as it won’t resemble policies implemented during his first term.
Fidan also addressed Washington’s stance, noting that the U.S. has made it clear it will not allow others to invade any place they choose simply by threatening with nuclear weapons.
Broader NATO agenda
President Erdogan and Rutte are also expected to discuss lifting defense procurement barriers between NATO allies and strengthening the alliance’s joint efforts against terrorism.
