Erdogan: Israel Is Primary Driver of Regional Conflict — SkimNews
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- Erdogan spoke with Al Jazeera Arabic's Ali Al Dafiri in an exclusive interview marking 25 years of AK Party rule, reflecting on more than two decades in power.
- Erdogan highlighted a recent defense deal concluded with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, positioning Turkiye inside a new regional military alliance.
- On the US-Israel war on Iran, Erdogan advocated open maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz while identifying Israel as the primary driver of regional conflict.
- Erdogan affirmed Turkiye's solid support for Syria's new administration and his unwavering solidarity with Lebanon and Gaza.
- Erdogan declared that European Union accession is no longer a priority for Turkiye, pivoting focus to the nation's sweeping economic transformation.
- Erdogan has won every election since founding AK Party in 2001, serving as Istanbul mayor in the early 1990s, prime minister for three terms, and president since 2014.
Why it matters: Erdogan's formal declaration that EU accession is 'no longer a priority' effectively ends Turkiye's decades-long Western-oriented ambitions, while his embrace of the Saudi-Pakistan defense pact and identification of Israel as the primary conflict driver lock in Ankara's pivot toward a Sunni Muslim bloc.
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