President Erdoğan on Hamas and Ukraine
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made important statements to the American NBC News channel in New York, where he was in New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly. In an interview with Keir Simmons, Erdogan said that he does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization, but rather a resistance group fighting to protect its territory. He also addressed the issue of Ukraine’s NATO membership, saying that the US and many NATO countries do not want Ukraine to join NATO.
During the interview, Erdogan was asked about Turkey’s position on Hamas and the Israeli operations in Gaza. Erdogan gave a clear answer, saying that Hamas is a group that defends its territory. He said: “We are against all kinds of terrorism. However, I am one of the leaders who knows Hamas well and I have never considered Hamas as a terrorist organization. I think the same way today. Hamas is a resistance group that is trying to defend its territory and therefore it would be wrong to describe it as a terrorist organization.”
Erdoğan also touched upon the Palestinian issue and emphasized that it is important to understand the background of the events of October 7. Stating that the Palestinian people have been suffering great pain for years, the President said that the tragedies experienced by Palestinians before this date should not be forgotten. “Since 1947 until today, Palestine has come to this day by losing its lands. Behind the October 7 events, we have to understand the injustices Palestine has suffered,” he said.
Assessment of Ukraine’s NATO Membership
Later in the interview, President Erdoğan also made important statements on Ukraine’s NATO membership. Stating that the US and many NATO countries do not want Ukraine to join NATO, Erdoğan emphasized that a hasty decision should not be taken on this issue. “Ukraine’s NATO membership is not a decision to be taken in a hurry. Such issues should not be handled with excitement, but with careful consideration. We will make our final decision by evaluating the stance of all NATO members,” Erdoğan said.
When asked whether a decision had been taken on Ukraine’s NATO membership, Erdoğan gave a clear “No” answer. This statement also reveals the conflicts between the major countries in Ukraine’s membership process. In particular, America’s reluctance to allow Ukraine to join NATO shows how delicate the balances within NATO are.
Turkey’s Foreign Policy
These views expressed by Erdoğan in the interview once again demonstrated Turkey’s independent stance in its foreign policy. While Turkey continues to pursue a different line from the West, especially on issues such as Hamas, it has shown that it follows a careful and cautious policy on Ukraine and NATO. Stating that Turkey will make decisions by evaluating the attitudes of other NATO countries, especially the US, Erdoğan emphasized that taking quick steps in international relations may not always lead to the right results.
Erdoğan stated that Ukraine’s NATO membership is of great importance for Turkey, but the stance of other NATO countries should also be taken into consideration. Turkey’s strategic position within NATO and its balanced relations with both the West and the East underscore the importance of such decisions.
In conclusion, President Erdoğan’s statements in this interview once again reinforced Turkey’s balanced and independent stance in foreign policy. His remarks on Hamas show that Turkey does not see the group as a terrorist organization in the West, but rather as a resistance group. At the same time, Turkey has acted carefully and thoughtfully on the issue of Ukraine’s NATO membership, demonstrating that it is pursuing a policy aimed at protecting its own strategic interests in the international arena.
