Erdogan outlines Turkey's non-aligned strategy amid shifting global power balance

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained that Turkey will pursue a foreign policy that avoids a binary East-West choice, remaining a committed NATO ally while expanding cooperation with China, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other emerging blocs. He described the recently signed Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as a collective self-defence pact, not an anti-Iran or anti-Israel alliance, and said Turkish support could range from intelligence sharing to advanced weaponry depending on the threat.

Erdogan called for a more representative UN Security Council and highlighted Turkey’s diplomatic efforts at the UN General Assembly to prevent regional conflicts from spreading. He reiterated open communication channels with both President Trump and Iranian officials, and dismissed narratives portraying Turkey as a looming threat to Israel. Finally, he outlined infrastructure projects such as the Trans-Caspian East-West Middle Corridor and the Development Road Project to boost trade and connectivity across Eurasia.