Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that preparations to establish the Mecca Alliance as a regional mechanism were continuing and that participating countries had demonstrated strong political will in support of the alliance.
Speaking on NTV about Türkiye’s foreign policy, Fidan said that assigning personnel and establishing the headquarters remained before the alliance’s institutional structure could be completed. Fidan said new talks could then be held on regional countries joining the alliance and stated that the Mecca Alliance could eventually become a platform capable of significantly changing regional balances.
Fidan assesses Israel and Netanyahu
Fidan described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rhetoric toward Türkiye as part of his effort to strengthen his domestic political position and preserve his hold on power.
Fidan said Netanyahu was trying to portray himself as indispensable and that hostile rhetoric presenting Türkiye as a threat was also part of this policy. Arguing that Israel’s international isolation would grow because of its policies, Fidan said Israel posed a threat not only to the region but also to the world and held Netanyahu’s policies responsible for this situation.
The Bab el-Mandeb crisis and Saudi Arabia
Fidan said various initiatives were under way to resolve the crisis around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and stressed that diplomatic efforts needed to produce concrete results for the parties concerned.
Fidan said the Houthis’ attacks against Saudi Arabia were serious attacks targeting the country’s territorial integrity and stated that Türkiye was acting in solidarity with Saudi Arabia on the issue. He said Saudi Arabia should not be made part of the ongoing confrontation between Iran and the United States.
Fidan said they would not oppose providing assistance if Saudi Arabia had military needs in certain technical areas. He said the attacks targeted Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and infrastructure, adding that allies had responsibilities toward one another.
Syria and Iran-US talks
Referring to developments in Syria, Fidan said the process concerning the dissolution and integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces was intended to proceed gradually and in a controlled manner.
Speaking about the talks between Iran and the United States, Fidan said the parties had begun interpreting the ongoing process in different ways to serve their own interests.
Türkiye’s position in the Aegean Sea
Assessing Greece’s activities in the Aegean Sea, Fidan said an election atmosphere was being felt in the country and that similar rhetoric could therefore continue.
Fidan said Türkiye was maintaining its official position and that the Turkish Armed Forces and coast guard units were on a high state of readiness. He said they hoped no one in the region would take reckless steps and added that they were closely monitoring any possible initiatives.
Fidan stressed that Türkiye’s approach to unresolved issues in the Aegean Sea had not changed. He said Türkiye did not accept the militarization of islands that had no military status until the continental shelf issue was resolved, adding that they were pursuing a determined position on the matter.
