Turkiye rejects East-West divide, says Mecca defense pact not aimed at Iran or Israel: President

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkiye would not choose between East and West as the global balance of power shifts, emphasizing Ankara’s commitment to NATO while pursuing deeper partnerships with China, Russia, and regional powers. In an exclusive written interview with US-based Newsweek magazine published Friday, Erdogan outlined Turkiye’s approach to a changing international order, addressing the new Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, tensions involving Iran and Israel, the war in Ukraine, and developments in Syria. “We do not believe it is right to impose on Turkiye a choice between the West or the East,” Erdogan said, stressing that the country’s geographical position requires a multidimensional foreign policy. He said Turkiye was strengthening its position […]