Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the phone as worries grow over the deepening crisis around Iran. In their discussion, Erdogan talked about a “geostrategic deadlock” that was developing regarding Iran. He said that the continuous US-Israeli war on Iran may spill more problems in the area if action is not taken immediately. He asked the global community to make use of diplomacy to bring peace to an end. Otherwise, things would worsen further.
Erdogan also used the call to thank NATO for its strong support of Turkey’s air defence systems. He pointed out how the alliance recently intercepted and destroyed ballistic missiles that had entered Turkish airspace. This quick action, he said, clearly showed NATO’s ability to work together and deter threats when they appear.
Other global matters were mentioned as well by both leaders. Erdogan stressed the resolve of Turkey to contribute towards reaching a resolution of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict through talks and dialogues. Negotiation is the only way in which such an issue will be resolved.
It is also important to note that Erdogan highlighted the 77th anniversary of NATO. Erdogan hopes that the next summit, to be held in July in Ankara, will be productive. It should result in tough decision-making that will further increase the efficiency of NATO.
The call took place at a sensitive moment, when various disputes threatened many nations. It is also important to mention that Turkey seeks stability. It is in favor of all serious initiatives aimed at maintaining peace in the region.
